What Happens Next?

What happens next?

Our lives are stories in motion. Our lives are still being written as long as we live. But with my life, I often feel a couple pages ahead of the writer. I often think I already know what happens next, like I know what's coming ahead. The funny thing is, I don't. And on this page of my life, I got a good reminder.

Last week my family and I set out on a venture across the States to a family reunion. We packed, prepared food for the trip, and hitched up to our travel trailer, fully expecting to arrive safely to our destination and visit lots of family members we hadn't seen in a long time. Interestingly enough, that wasn't what happened next.

Turn the page and we're stuck on the edge of a road on a mountain pass hundreds of miles away from home. Our engine had overheated and wasn't restarting, coolant had leaked into the cabin, and I had no idea what would happen next. It's funny how we pray a whole lot more during times like these.

For the first time in a while, I was reminded how helpless I really am. I have so many expectations, but I really have no clue what plot twists the next page might hold. The only confidence I can have is in the One who already knows how the story goes. And He says all things work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. So whatever happened next would be for my good. He also says that He'll provide for our needs.

By gracious, unexpected circumstances, God used His people to fulfill His promise. Once we managed to make it down the road to the nearest town, our needs were met by a local church. We got the car to a shop, and a temporary fix was applied. Unfortunately, we couldn't make it to our family reunion, and we needed to head home.

None of this was what I expected on this little page of my life, but it was all good. So what happens next? Only God knows!

¹³ Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” ¹⁴ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. ¹⁵ Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” – James 4:13-15 (ESV)

Author: Timothy Bemenderfer (7/12/2023)