Life has been a roller coaster ride for me. I have had so many life altering events happen  I thought I would never get through because I felt like I was drowning. There were seasons where each time I thought I was through it, something else happened. As a Christian, I believed  bad things weren’t supposed to happen to me. When they did, I prayed for how I wanted the prayer to be answered. Sometimes I got what I wanted, but many times the answer was not what I asked for.

Faith is a journey we take with the Lord. He hears our prayers and answers them according to his plan for our life. But it is his plan, not ours.

Each one of those bumps in the road were part of the plan  for making me a better person.  Through life events such as divorce, betrayal, tragic accidents, unemployment, work place bullying, health issues, financial difficulties, and deaths, the pain was real and it didn’t go away immediately. At times, I felt abandoned by God or sometimes I even felt anger toward God. However, most of those events changed me.

 I have looked back and wondered – what if? What if he had answered all those prayers that I poured out? What would life be like if I took a different road?  Garth Brooks even has a song called Unanswered Prayers. Sometimes the best answer is no.

I have come to the same conclusion as the song. Those prayers that weren’t answered have helped me become a stronger Christian. There was a reason I needed to go through those seasons.The Bible contains countless stories of the struggles of ordinary people who grew stronger in faith to do extraordinary works with God’s help for his purpose.Through love,  God helped them to do more than they could imagine themselves doing.

Now I don’t look back and try to figure out any what ifs of the past. The past can’t be changed. Looking to the ahead,  I think more in future what ifs. What if I write that book? What if I take that trip? What if I read the Bible? What if I join that Bible group? There are so many things ready to explore. I ask God for wisdom in all things knowing he is faithful and will lead. I never have to worry that he will abandon me.

What if you put your trust in him? It won’t be easy, but it will be an adventure. There is still time to do amazing things and travel new roads. You may be glad you did.