castles in the sand

so lately i've been hearing a lot about plans.

plans about love.
the first time he said, "i love you"...
the time he said, "will you marry me?"...
the time she said, "we're pregnant"...
the time she said, "what should we do for our 25th anniversary?"...

plans about jobs.
the time he decided which path to follow.
the time she discovered how much she loved her work.
the time he realized his work had become a part of his identity, and probably couldn't ever let it go.

plans about the future.
the time she got her first student loan.
the time they bought a house.
the time they bought life insurance.

now, i'm feeling a little left out.
my plans aren't really set... and it's a little nerve-wracking.
i don't really know what i'm going to do with my life.
i have no idea where i'll be in a year.
i don't know where my life is going.
i am pretty sure that i'll graduate in may at least...

a really wise woman told me a few days ago:
follow God with all your heart right now... and when it's right, He'll show you the rest.
at least, that's my paraphrase.

i was talking to my grandma, and she was telling me about what happened a little while ago at one of my grandpa's worksites. they've been building a really big barn for quite some time, and one day, a big gust of wind swept up.
it leveled the barn like it was a pile of toothpicks.
not too long after, another barn they had finished fell down too.
this really showed me that we can make all the plans in the world... but just when we think it's in our hands, God shows us that it's not. He's still in control...

11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. (Jeremiah 29)

the plans HE has... not me.