¹¹ For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. ¹² Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. -Jeremiah 29:11-13

This is one of my absolute favorite verses. I have used this verse in my prayers from the time I discovered it. Five years ago it took on new meaning. Five years ago, I was starting my senior year of college and beginning the process of applying to seminary. I thought I had God’s plan for the future all figured out.

That’s when my husband and I (not my husband at the time) discovered that I was pregnant with our son Corbin. Now, for those of you who have ever picked a Bible character to identify with, I was feeling much like I felt Abraham must have felt every time he jumped the gun and didn’t wait on God. I hadn’t waited, or even followed his will and I was convinced my “future” was over.

Never have I been so wrong in all my life. Long story short, having Corbin was the best thing that ever happened us. It forced us to become completely and totally humbled before God; entirely reliant on His good and perfect will to take care of us and lead us. Corbin has become our tangible testament of our Lord’s unending mercy and blessings.

And today I am reminded of all this because it’s my son’s birthday. Corbin Paris Williams turns four years old today. All legs, questions and heart, I sometimes think that I have fulfilled half of what God intended for me just by being his mother.  Now it’s his future that I am eagerly awaiting God’s promise for. Thank you Lord for your blessings.