God Knows Better

Deuteronomy 32:3-4 – I will proclaim the name of the Lord. Oh, praise the greatness of our God! He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he. (NIV)

Our son turned twelve and, at his request, we decided to register him for hockey for the first time. He desperately needed to learn how to skate effectively, so we had registered him in a hockey camp.

When we got back from holidays, I learned, much to my horror, that his hockey camp had been cancelled. What was I going to do? I had one day to find something as I knew that most hockey camps would be starting the following Monday. I don't remember praying, but I certainly must have uttered some sort of plea to God.

I was, shall we say, slightly into panic mode. I called three places: too expensive, too far, and "I'll have to get back to you", were the responses. It was the last one — great price, close to home — that I thought we should be going to, and I waited some time before getting the response that they too were full. Huge sigh! I called a fourth place and they had room! I was less than impressed, though, because it was three-quarters of an hour away, meaning an hour and a half of driving every day for two weeks! But, I was desperate. I signed him up.

The first day that we were there, I was thoroughly impressed with the camp. The coaches were fantastic. They were positive and encouraging. They told my son how proud they were of him for even contemplating going into a sport in which others had already been playing for six years or more.

Then I read in the newspaper about the camp that I thought would have been great. As it turned out, it was definitely not the right camp for us! I really thought I knew. But God knew better!

In one day I had learned a valuable lesson from God. I felt awe, and marvelled about His goodness. He really knows what He is doing! Why do we try to second-guess Him?

When things don't seem to be working out for us the way we planned, we need to try to realize that God obviously has other plans for us. God's plans are always the best. God loves us more than we could possibly imagine and He works in our lives in ways that we can't see.

Lamentations 3:22-23 – The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Thy faithfulness. (RSV)

Prayer: Thank you, our Father, our God, for helping us out in times when we are struggling, when our plans are not working out, and when we can't see the light at the end of the tunnel. Help us to trust you for even the small things in our lives. Thank you for leading us in the direction you want us to go in, and help us to learn to trust that, even though things aren't going smoothly, you are in the driver's seat and you are in control. Thank you for being with us at all times. Give us peace. Amen.