For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 ESV

That this is God, our God forever and ever. He will guide us forever. Psalm 48:14 ESV

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 ESV

For many of us, we don’t always end up where we think we will, or live the life we imagined, or achieve all that we had planned. And we get disappointed or discouraged and we give up. I have had health problems that changed the trajectory of my teaching career. I lost both of my parents to cancer much too soon. I thought I was sure of my calling to write children’s books when I retired.

Our verses for today assure us that God is in control. God has good plans for each of us, “to give us a future and a hope.” That God will “guide us forever.” And that God works all things for good according to His purpose. So, when we get discouraged or disappointed what do we do?

We choose to “bloom” wherever God has planted us, we follow where He guides us and work with Him beside us to do good according to His purpose.

My first teaching assignment was in a BEH (Behaviorally/Emotionally Handicapped) class. I feel I “bloomed” where God had placed me because God was with me. Because God loved me, I loved and helped each of my BEH students to grow and gain responsibility for their choices. I was to be the county’s itinerant BEH teacher, but health issues sent me on another path. I was placed in a first grade classroom and again God was with me and I loved and helped every student to grow and learn. Of course as a special education teacher I got all the “special” kids and I loved them all!

After I retired, I attendind different writer’s workshops. But I was not successful in my desire to publish children’s books. God was not planting me there. But through one of the workshops, God guided me to try writing devotional blog posts, which I love! This is my 8^th year! I pray each week that God guides me to write something that touches someone’s life. This week, I pray this touches your heart if you are feeling disappointed or discouraged or disheartened.

God is in control and guides us to where we can best “bloom” according to His purpose and with Him beside us. Even our trials and pain, God can work for good. Perhaps it is to help others who are going through similar problems, or to strengthen us for our next planting.

This week, look back, where has God planted you and where did you bloom and follow His purpose for your life. How can you go forward in following His guidance and blooming for His glory?

I thank God for each of you! And I thank you for joining me this week as we choose to embrace God’s guidance and bloom wherever He has called us to be.

Blessings and blooming in God’s guidance and planting!