COV LIFE BLOG
A Year of Faithfulness
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord… – Jeremiah 29:11
As I posture my heart to reflect upon the past year, I am reminded that the Lord knows the plans He has for me. His sovereign eyes saw my unformed substance—even before I was conceived. His sovereign hands wrote, every one of them, the days that were formed for me—even before I was born (Psalm 139:16). At the start of each new year, He does, and will always know the plans He has for me. For this reason, my heart overflows with praise as I consider how perfectly his plans for 2014 have unfolded both in my life and in the lives of those around me.
First, I have seen God’s faithful plan unfold in the provision of our new home. By His grace alone, we have become homeowners after only one year of marriage. In every step of that process, Harold and I witnessed God provide us with the wisdom, finances, support and timing needed to move forward with home ownership. Despite our reluctance at the onset of our search (when we were first shown the house that is now our home, we hated it!), as well as the apparent setbacks we experienced (the sellers rejected our first offer), God’s plan for our home was never disturbed or compromised. He knew the plans He had for us.
God’s provision of new homes has not stopped with us—for He has, since then, provided multiple couples from CLC with the same wisdom, finances, support and timing needed to pursue home ownership as well. I am so grateful for His provision in all of our lives!
Second, I have seen God’s faithful plan unfold in the provision of new life. As it would happen, on September 5th, 2014—the day before we were due to move into our new home—Harold and I found out that baby Soto had already moved into our lives! Our plan was to start trying in October, but God knew the plans He had for us. Now, at 19 weeks into my pregnancy, I glance down at the precious life that is nestled ever so perfectly within me, and I am in awe at God’s gracious provision of new life in 2014.
And God has been so good to provide new life for multiple other couples at CLC as well! I am so thankful for the grace He has shown by bringing new life into the wombs, and subsequently into the world, for various members of our church family.
Finally, I have seen God’s faithful plan unfold in the provision of a new church family. God led us to attend Covenant Life for the first time in March of this year. Prior to our initial visit, Harold and I had planned to possibly move to Georgia. But the Lord knew the plans he had for us. Now we are surrounded by a body of faithful, encouraging, Christ-exalting believers and I could not be more grateful for the godly men and women that the Lord has allowed to flood our life as a result of this provision.
As I set my sights on the year ahead, I pray that my heart will continue to rest in this truth: that the Lord knows the plans He has for me. Not a day that passes in my life can circumnavigate the sovereign care of His will. And for those in Christ, the same is true. Praise God!
Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. – Proverbs 19:21
– Hannah Soto