God’s Plan
All things work together
The Wondrous Threads of God’s Plan
We only recognize God’s hand in our journey when we take time to look back and see how he has woven every step into a beautiful tapestry.
What an astounding masterpiece God has woven through time! The very essence of our existence is a testament to His intricate design. God’s plan for each of us unfolds with each step of our journey. When my mother was born, she carried within her the egg that would one day become me. Long before I ever took my first breath, I was nestled within her. She, in turn, had once been cradled within my grandmother’s womb. This delicate and awe-inspiring chain of life stretches back through generations… Tracing all the way to the beginning of time, when God fashioned Eve from Adam’s rib. The very thought leaves me in wonder.
God’s plan for each of us is written before we even exist. It is not by chance that we are here, but by divine intention. And as I think back on my mother’s life, I see His hand so clearly.
She was born in 1942, in the midst of World War II. At 13, her life took an unexpected turn—one that, by human reasoning, should have ended in tragedy. In 1955, when the polio vaccine was just beginning to emerge in the United States, she and her brothers contracted the virus. While they recovered almost fully, she did not. Doctors did not expect her to survive. And yet, God had other plans.
Confined to an iron lung, she fought for life, defying the odds with every breath. Eventually, she grew strong enough to be transferred to Warm Springs, Georgia, for rehabilitation. By God’s grace, she returned home to Southern Illinois, finished high school with honors, and refused to let her wheelchair define her. Keep in mind, this was a time when disabled people were not well respected. There were no ramps, no handicap parking spaces, no compassion. Obstacles were everywhere. She lived with determination, raising two children, earning a Master’s degree in Social Work, and dedicating her career to helping other disabled students find their own paths through higher education as she served as the Specialized Student Services dean on a local university campus.
Though polio left its mark on her body, it could not break her spirit. She lived with courage and purpose until the Lord called her home at the age of 47.
When I think about her journey—the obstacles, the triumphs, the undeniable evidence of God’s hand—I am left in awe. None of it was coincidence. It was part of a greater story, one that began before time itself. And just as God carried my mother through her days, He carries each of us, weaving together a purpose far beyond what we can imagine.
What an amazing, sovereign God we serve!
“For you formed my inward parts;
You knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
My soul knows it very well.”
Psalm 139:13-14
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