Thursday, July 8, 2010

PLAN B - What Do You Do When God Doesn't Show Up The Way You Thought He Would?



Have you ever found yourself in the middle of a Plan B? Do you know what a Plan B is? Well, I really didn't either.According to Pete Wilson, pastor of Cross Point Church in Nashville, Tennessee, a Plan B is when you realize your life and dreams aren't going as you planned or maybe you feel like your life is crumbling around you.  Plan B situations can include:
  • The death of a child
  • A serious illness
  • Not getting that dream job you worked so hard for
  • Divorce
These Plan B situations usually leave you asking, "God, where are you?" or they may leave you wondering, "why did God let this happen (or not happen)?"

In his new book, Plan B, Pastor Pete Wilson points out that "throughout life, you will face one situation after another that will be completely beyond what you can handle", but he uses scripture and real life situations to show that God is always present in your life, and God is always in control, even when you are in the midst of a Plan B situation.

While reading Plan B, I started thinking, "have I ever been in a Plan B situation?"
  • Two miscarriages
  • Death of my father
  • Divorce
Of course, if you read my blog, you may be thinking I have been thrown into quite a few Plan B situations when Hollie was a teenager:
  • Self mutilation
  • Drug use
  • (near) drug overdose
  • Rape
  • Attempted suicide
And as a single mom having to deal with these situations, I often felt God had abandoned me.  I had raised Hollie going to church, teaching her from the Bible, and the next thing I know, I'm telling the judge that my child is incorrigible and needs to be put on house arrest, and the whole time I was thinking, "Hello...God...where are you?".  And every time I had to call Pearl Police to pick Hollie up and bring her home, I would be thinking, "OK God, why are you letting this happen?"  I was struggling to keep Hollie from destroying herself, and many times, it all seemed so hopeless.  I thought God had disappeared.

But...had God really disappeared?

Reading Plan B made me realize that God never left me alone.  I just didn't "see God in my circumstance". God is always present, and he is always in control of every situation, no matter how hopeless it may seem.   Pastor Pete reminded me that "God does his best work in hopeless situations".

Hollie now wants to be a youth minister.  She asked me one day if I thought God allowed her to go through these bad situations (Plan B's), so she could help other teenagers going through the same thing.  Reading Plan B helped me better understand that God used all these Plan B situations to prepare Hollie to serve him.

Plan B offers you hope, guidance, and insight when your world is looking rather bleak and is a book I'm going to keep around if I ever have for when I have another Plan B episode in my life.


"While life is uncertain,
God is not.
While our power is limited,
God is limitless.
While our hope may be fragile, 
God is hope himself."

Watch the video below of Pastor Pete discussing Plan B situations.



PlanB Promo from Cross Point Church on Vimeo.


Click on any of the blue quotes "links" above to be taken to Without Wax.TV, Pastor Pete's website.
"Pete Wilson is the lead pastor of Cross Point Church in Nashville, Tennessee.  Pete aspires to lead churches to become radically devoted to Christ, irrevocably committed to one another, and relentlessly dedicated to reaching those outside of God's family." You can obtain your copy of Plan B from any local bookstore or online at:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0849946506/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1YHG11WJWN0PYVY02EGV&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846



 







Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”


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20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Very nice! In a plan B situation right now. Thank you, Cathy

Sey said...

Thank you so much for sharing this. this is an inspiration. I am in plan B as well and it's nice to know that there are people around the blogosphere who blog something like this. Thank you very much!

I found you on Friday Follow!

Crownd Vic said...

1) That was a very special post. I'm Jewish but I can still relate. Sometimes things don't happen the way you predict, and you need to go with the other options out there. Just knowing that G-d has a plan, even a Plan B, is worth sharing!

2) Thanks for stopping by my blog for SITS Friday Potluck! I love reading your blog :)

3) I also love that your new initials when you got married were LSD. that's kinda funny!

Neuffj said...

New follower here from Friday Follow! I think my life has been a plan B, perhaps I need a new perspective!

Charla @ Healthy Home Blog said...

So true! We've been in several Plan B situations in our life, and God has always been faithful to see us through those times. We're in one right now too. I had planned to go back to teaching last year (either first,second grade or special ed), but there's a surplus of teachers and it's extremely hard to find a job. So I did a lot of subbing this past year. My favorite was a special ed class with autistic children. I'm thankful for that experience and am just "walking by faith" to see where God leads me.

Christi @ The Frugal Novice said...

What a great reminder that God uses everything that happens to us for a greater purpose. Love this post.

Crystal said...

Wow, lovely and emotional post! Stopping by for the blog hop and now following you. Glad I did bc I enjoyed this post read! Hope you can visit me at 3 jewels and follow me back!

Unknown said...

Hi! Im a new follower from FF

WOuld love for you to visit and return the follow?
chickenista-reviews.blogspot.com
chickenista.blogspot.com

Xenia said...

Great post - very inspirational! I think everyone needs to remember that life isn't perfect and there is always a Plan B.

Thanks for stopping by and for joining us for Friendly Friday, have a great weekend!

Judy said...

Hi! Thanks for following. Im now following back. Have a great weekend.

pete wilson said...

Thanks Laura!!

Jamie said...

Found you via FF and am so glad I stopped by! What a great post! I'll have to check out that book! Love reading your posts!

Hollywood Glamorous said...

Great page! Thanks for following Hollywood Chic.

Also following you.

Amanda

dustinnikki said...

Hi! I'm your newest follower from Friendly Friday!

Great Post!

http://dustinnikki.blogspot.com/

Kristy @Loveandblasphemy said...

Hello from SITS! I like this post. So many out there are dealing with what they think they are not strong enough to handle, and yet God is there in their lives working with them. I hope this can reach out to people who need this in their lives right now.

Sonora said...

I have been in a few Plan B situations, most recently (within the last five years) was divorce. This sounds like a good book. I will have to check it out!

Life Without Pink said...

Wow what a beautiful post. It really opened up my eyes. I do believe that everything happens for a reason, we may not understand why right now or maybe ever. Great post.

mandala said...

I think I had recently experienced a Plan B when I had serious illness right after starting life as a full-time grad student. Thanks for visiting my blog - following you back from blog flow :)

Shanda said...

I've been wanting to read this since it came out. I've been following Pete's blog for qutie some time now.

I am so happy to have found your blog!

April said...

Stopping By from SITS. sounds like a good book. I am so glad to hear how God has redeemed your daughter and these bad situations! He can use them for Hos glory!

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