If you want to hear God laugh, tell him your plans.

I am pretty sure I heard that in a country song, but surly that wasn't the first guy to say those words.

Not that I think God would actually laugh at me, we serve a merciful, loving and faithful God. Not one who sits aloof and watches us wreck our lives for a chuckle.

But does God show favoritism to those who spend their lives serving him? For people like my family who read about Jesus and try to live like him?

God showed favoritism to Job, he asked Satan not to kill him.

But for most of the righteous examples for God-fearing people in the old testament, if you served God, and he "blessed" you, that meant that you would have as many sons and daughters as you could squeeze into your tent and riches beyond measure. This was true for Abraham, Jacob, David, and the list goes on. Now these men did endure hardships, loss of children, loss of family, uncontrollable family...But I think looking back on it, I can read about their entire lives in a few hours and so I see the big picture.

Ahh, the big picture. The elusive "plan" for my life. Can I please have a gander at that? Just to read a summary of my life. To see what in the world all of this is for. God tells us in that the rain falls on the righteous and the unrighteous. Now whether you view rain as good or bad, it really doesn't matter. Good things happen to bad people, and vice versa. I just want to know the point.

I know God is with me. I know he watches over me day and night. But God did not promise us an easy life, a good life, a life filled with health and wealth. He promised us an eternity with him in Heaven. That has got to be the last sentence of my life summary. Because nothing that happens to me here on this earth means anything with out that sweet reward at the end of the road.

I recently read part of a book (lent it out, will finish it someday) called Plan B. Every chapter reminded me of either myself, my family or a family that I love dearly who is enduring some kind of trial in their life that they never imagined they would have to. Everyone's life eventually takes some kind of path that they wish they didn't have to travel. No one sits down as a little girl and says "I'd like to be divorced by the time I'm 26" or "Someday I'll lost a child in a tragic way". No one does. Because we just don't think it will happen to us!

But it will, something will. The gist of the book is that God is still with you. Even for the worst parts. He said it better than I am, but you get it. It's normal. If I ever get a job with Hallmark, I am going to invent a sympathy card that simply says:
"I'm sorry. This sucks."
Because sometimes that's all you can really handle hearing.

If you don't have Jesus in your life, I highly recommend him. My saving grace, my merciful savior, my rock, my deliverance.