2022 was supposed to be a year of big plans in my life. I had an expectation that God was going to do great work. However, these grand plans were supposed to be my plans! But if you know anything about God, you know that he does not work that way. His word says to seek his will and his plan for our lives but so often we seek after him to fulfill our will and plans. I was so confident, well arrogant, in thinking that I knew God’s path for me. Yet, when he revealed His plan for my life, I was disappointed that my plans would be left incomplete.

In 2021, God gave me my word (a passage of scripture to meditate and reflect on) for 2022. Jeremiah 29: 11-12, For I know the plans I have you declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you. So, of course, I highlighted the word plans and just knew God would do great things. As 2022 began, with great ambition, I began seeking Him on what these grand plans were. What will we be doing, God? How are we going to get it done? When God? Come on, God, let’s do it. However, what God did frustrated me instead.

The more I sought after Him, the more he removed from me. I was instructed to stop. Stop everything. No more daily devotionals. No more spiritual graphics. No more podcasts. No more serving at church. No more school. Do NOTHING! I couldn’t understand why. All of what I was doing was for the Kingdom of God. I was serving God and others. I loved doing all of these things. I wanted to share the Good News. Why couldn’t I do? This couldn’t possibly be the plan.

Not only did God strip away doing, he also restricted my studying of His word. I was instructed to read and study only the Book of Jeremiah for the entire year. This was the only book I was allowed to read for my personal study and devotional time. I was to read and study Jeremiah in multiple translations and learn as much as possible from the events that occurred.

After releasing my frustration and getting out of the way, I submitted to God’s will. It took some time, but after doing so, I soon realized why He was calling me to stop. During this past year, God searched my heart and showed me many areas in my life that needed pruning. Now that He has released me, I want to share some of what God has done in my life in hopes that it encourages you and helps you grow in your walk.

Join me for a journey through the Book of Jeremiah by reading one devotional a week. My prayer is that through my transparency you will see God.