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

Our verses for today promise us that God is in control. In Jeremiah, God promises us that He has good plans for our future, and for us! And our verse from Psalms promises us that God will guide and lead us always. And in our last verse from Romans, Paul tells us that God works all things (even the bad things that sometimes happen in our lives) for our good when we love God  and want to follow God’s purpose in our lives.

Let’s talk for just a minute about the word bloom in our title. I want you to imagine a flower that slowly opens up, the green bud that becomes the flower is pretty small and plain, but when it blooms it becomes a beautiful, colorful flower that everyone wants to look at. When we “bloom” we let God work through us so that we can do good things for others and ourselves.

When I was 6 years old, I had just finished kindergarten at a small school in Indiana. I couldn’t wait for summer to be over so I could be in the first grade at elementary school! But that summer my dad got a job in another state and we moved to Pennsylvania. I didn’t want to move; I wanted to go to first grade with my friends, I was not happy. But my parents told me that it would all work out (and they were right!)

And as I look back, God was working what I thought was a bad thing for my good. The neighborhood we moved to had lots of kids. I met and played with them all summer, and when school started, I had already made new friends. First grade, and the rest of my schooling in Pennsylvania was fun! God knew best and worked it out for me! I “bloomed” in Pennsylvania, I did well enough in school to go to college, God led me to a church where I was saved. And then I wanted to tell  everyone all that God had done for me. I’m sharing it with you right now!

If some things in your life don’t seem to be working out exactly like you want them to, remember that God is in control. He is working, even when you can’t see it. God wants you to have hope, trusting in Him to give you a good future.

This week, talk with your parents about how God can work things in our lives for good. Can you think back about a time when God worked out something good for you? Maybe your parents have a story about how God worked in their lives for good. And just maybe you are one of the best parts of their story! And maybe your parents  are one of the best parts of your story.

Blessing as you “bloom” right where you are!