Living Tentatively

 

Yesterday, we had planned on going to church at my Uncle's church. I was all geared up and ready. I laid out our clothes and got things ready to make Sunday morning go as smoothly as possible. But my early morning check-in on Chris revealed a temperature a little over 101. Ugh. Even though it came down to around 99 quickly with some liquids and a fan, it's not like we can take any chances.

Making plans can be one of the most difficult parts of caregiving, especially if your loved one is medically fragile. Chris has been on a good run, but he's had a worsening cough over the last week. So, I wasn't too surprised by a spiked fever. But, we had plans!  

For me, formerly Miss Punctual, Miss Never a No-Show, this is so difficult. It's been one of the hardest parts of caregiving, and I still don't deal with it well after 17+ years. I am tempted to just stop making plans. LOL. But I know when I make plans that they have to be tentative. As caregivers, this may be just one of the many adjustments we are forced to make. It can so go against our very nature. But we must adjust, because it's just the way it is.

But of course, there's good news. God doesn't make tentative plans. He doesn't have a backup, and His agenda will never change. Even in our uncertainties and fragile circumstances, He remains steady and consistent. His mercy, love, grace, and patience don't fluctuate except to match our loneliness, frustrations, needs, and crazy circumstances. Whether we can keep the plans we made or get stuck at home - He's got grace for it.

Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us that God makes plans, too. But He never has to change them! The prophet Jeremiah was giving this promise, you know the one where God says, I know the plans I have for you. Plans for a hope and a future. Plans for peace. The real kicker here is who He was making the plans for. God was planning hope, peace, and prosperity for people who had rebelled against Him. They were headed into 70 years of exile and captivity because they had turned against God, yet He still had plans for peace, hope, and a future for them. 

God never has to change His plans. 

Today, I will remind myself, even in my frustration, that God's plans still stand. He has grace for today, no matter what is put on or taken off my plate. God's not flying by the seat of His pants trying to keep up with our crazy days. I'll meditate on how He planned enough grace for today, long before today even arrived. My thoughts will be on how He already covered today with His grace and wrapped it in His mercies. Even though my plans were interrupted, His were not. I'll be grateful for His consistent and persistent grace for today as I trust Him for one more day. Will you join me?

Check out my latest release. Command Your Morning is a 31-day devotional that is focused on taking charge of your soul and day in the morning and trusting God that the rest of the day will follow suit! You can get the eBook from my shop at Buy Me A Coffee. Or the print and Kindle versions are now available in my Amazon Shop.