My Blueprint

Proverbs 23:18: " For surely there is an end;  and thine expectation shall not be cut off."

My husband recently requested of me the description of a  needed piece of furniture for an entryway. I can immediately picture what I want in my head, but I'm really not good at putting it on blueprint. I verbally sketched my desires for him, knowing he is the master carpenter. I completely trust his amazing skill of putting it on paper and beautifully crafting a piece of custom furniture designed for the need. I also know he made numerous changes throughout the construction process. I never made him show those revised plans to me.

I could hear the saw and I would step into the shop every now and then to see the progress he was making. He had told me he was giving it to me for Mother's Day. Not once was I concerned about the finished product or the delivery of it as promised.  I knew the crafter and I had observed his handiwork. I saw the blueprint and I sincerely believed it would all be completed as desired. My expectations were high.

As it happened, some unforseen circumstances arose, and he was delayed. He was intent on keeping his Mother's Day deadline so was planning to work into the wee hours the night before.  I went to him and told him something like this:  "I appreciate the dedication and care you are putting in this for me, but I know I will get this piece of furniture. It doesn't have to be tomorrow. I will wait for it."  I can still remember the tired look of relief he gave me when I released him.

The above scripture tells me that I can trust God to bring an expected end to every unanswered question in my life. And believe me, I have a lot of them! If I let myself,  I can live in a never ending whirl  of "whys".

Why do innocent children have to suffer for the sins of their parents?  Why do good people die early and evil people live on and make life miserable for others? Why can deserving couples remain childless while promiscuity produces unwanted babies who get murdered?

The questions can get much more personal if I choose to become introspective about my own life. I admit I have asked God some pretty tough questions.

But He holds my blueprint for the future. I don't have to make Him sit down and review the blueprint every few days.  I am tempted to. I am also prone to demand deadlines to my prayers. I want things to turn out my way. It is not easy for me to graciously give God permission to alter my life or delay my plans.

Sometimes,  I want to take that Master Plan right out of His hands and, with my inexperience, redraw the blueprint. But I am reminded of another scripture that says: "I know the plans I have for you. They are good, not evil."

I trusted my husband.  Every day I walk by my beautiful gift from him and I love him for the great thought, care and time he put into it. It will be a treasure passed down to our children because their father made it. 

Not once did I try to help my husband build this piece;  not once have I complained over the finished product. I see it as a work of love. I even trusted him to change the blueprint and gave him permission to be late on delivering it.

How much more should I trust my Master Planner with the blueprint of His great Creation and even more of my own life? I am ashamed to admit the many times I've complained to God or asked Him to change my circumstances. I have questioned His love for me at times.  And my time frame is hardly ever in sinc with His.

I am reminded that I need to often thank Him for all the love and care he pours into my life.  I desire to trust Him more and question Him less. And above all, I want my life to be His Masterpiece.