There are seasons in life when everything seems to move in the direction we hoped for—and others when nothing unfolds the way we imagined it would.
Plans change. Doors close. Timelines stretch longer than expected. What once felt certain begins to feel fragile or unclear. In those moments, it can be difficult to reconcile the life we thought we would have with the reality we are living.
Disappointment often arrives quietly. Not always through dramatic loss, but through the gradual realization that something we deeply desired may not come to pass in the way we anticipated. Careers take unexpected turns. Relationships shift. Income disappears. The future we once pictured suddenly becomes impossible to recognize.
Scripture does not ignore these experiences. In fact, many of the people whose stories are recorded in the Bible lived through long stretches of uncertainty, waiting, and redirection. Their paths were rarely straightforward. What they expected and what ultimately unfolded were often very different.
Moments of disruption can challenge our understanding of purpose and direction. Yet they also invite reflection. When plans unravel, it may be an opportunity to reconsider what we are holding onto and what we are being called to trust more deeply.
Faith does not always remove uncertainty, but it can shape how we walk through it. Even in seasons when the future feels unsettled, there remains space for hope—quiet, steady, and present in ways that may not be immediately obvious.
Sometimes the life we end up living is not the one we planned, but it may still be one where meaning, growth, and grace can be found along the way. And sometimes what we end up with is far greater than anything we could have ever imagined.
In April of 2022, I was living a very comfortable life. My retirement investment was solid and growing. I bought my dream home with 5 acres of land, a pool, a pond, a barn, and a workshop. Life was good! Then I retired from the 9-to-5 office grind and all the traffic, lived mostly off my retirement account, and spent my time doing the things I loved. I served at church more, I painted more, and I spent as much time as I could get with my grandkids (who loved the pool!).
Then one of those unexpected (and unwelcome) life events happened. In September of 2024, my world came crashing down. My investor turned out to be a master in Ponzi scheming, and all the money disappeared overnight. I now had zero money, zero job, and massive debt. Needless to say, my grand plans were yanked out from under me, my dream home had to be sold, and I had to re-enter the office workforce.
That’s when I had to decide if I was going to fall apart or stand on faith, see only the valley, or trust that God would carry me to the other side. That’s not an easy thing for me, that absolute faith thing. But this time, I chose faith. I was going to trust that God had plans for me and that He would see me through.
First, I claimed Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Then I prayed. Crazy enough, there was peace. Not every single day. Selling my dream home was not one of my favorite moments. Especially when I had 7 days left until I had to be out. Here I was at 55 years old, asking my parents if I could bunk on their couch until I could find something.
I scrolled the real estate listings like it was social media. A house popped up in a neighborhood I hadn’t considered before, but it was clean, nice, and tiny. Less to clean, right?! Somewhat grudgingly, I had my realtor meet me there, only to realize once I stepped inside the front door that this felt like where God was leading me. The following day, after loads of prayer and with only 6 days left to leave my dream home, I made the offer on the house. It was going to stink having to move twice, but what option did I have?
This is where God shines through. My realtor called and said, “You’re not going to believe this, but they’ve not only accepted your offer, but they’re asking if you can close in 6 days…..” I sat in stunned silence for all of 30 seconds before I laughed in amazement and joy. Only God!
The point is, I could’ve sunk into fear and depression (as I’ve done before), but this time I chose to trust God and pray, diligently seeking Him through His word, accepting that life would be different from what I had planned, but it didn’t mean it couldn’t still be a good, good life.
I’ve been in my sweet, little house for over a year, and I feel very blessed each time I walk through that front door and look back at all the small (and big) ways God has stood beside me. I look forward to seeing where he takes me in this journey we call life.