Hey there, friends. Liz Johnson here.
I recently joined a small group through a church here in Nashville, and we've begun reading the new book Plan B by Pete Wilson, a local pastor who made national news for the way he recently organized the members of his church in flood relief efforts. I've been enjoying reading the book, and so far my favorite part is the subtitle: What to do When God Doesn't Show Up the Way You Thought He Would. Pete writes about how we should respond when life doesn't go how we planned, how we thought it would.
Lately I've been thinking about how that relates to me in my life, and also the lives of my characters. Afterall, isn't that what all good novels have in common? Books would be awfully boring if every character's life turned out exactly the way he thought it should. If she got everything she ever wanted with no struggle, there's no story.
And I think it's the same with real life. When everything turns out the way we think it should, we miss out on the story. Because the really exciting part of life isn't getting what we want every time, but rather waiting to see just how God is going to show up. Oh, He's promised He won't ever leave or forsake us, so He will show up. We just might not realize it until it's happened.
As I'm working on my new book, I've started asking myself how God will show up to the heroine. She feels like she's on Plan F, and she's not convinced that God will do what He's promised He will. But she's about to be surprised that the biggest pain in her life, is really a gift from above.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I think we have a story. :)
I hope this encourages you, both as you're writing and as you're walking your day-to-day life. Maybe you're on Plan B. Maybe you're on Plan Z. Either way, God is going to show up. Make sure you pay attention so you don't miss the good stuff.
Christian Romance Authors with Fictionalized Tales of Intriguing Edginess
5 comments:
Liz,
Nice post. Sorry I logged on late. Pride always makes us think we can solve our problems better than God. Thank goodness He's in control!
You know, it's nice to read someone else has gone through plan B. How I thought my life would be is nothing like I imagined. But God's vision is so much better than ours.
Hi, Liz! I think Pete's awesome, and I've been wanting to read his book. Thanks for the endorsement. What he did here in Nashville was a reminder of what a church can do when motivated by a genuine Spirit.
Truthfully, I think most of us are living Plan B. I know I have, especially since 1987 and the birth of my daughter. I think this is what trust..and listening!...is all about.
Hey ladies,
I think everyone is living a Plan B of some sort. I was reading more of the book last night, and it talked about giving over control to God. It can be so hard, but he's the one who's in charge anyway. How often we forget that.
I know I sure didn't think I'd wind up living in Nashville and single at 28. But I also didin't think that I'd have 3 books under contract. It's so amazing how God's plans are not our plans. They're ultimately so much better. :)
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