I am about three months away from serving in Jaco, Costa Rica. I never imagined I would be preparing in a global pandemic but here we are! I've been thinking a lot about God's plan through this pandemic and how wrecked each of our plans have been through this. Everyone has been affected in different ways by the coronavirus. No matter how many times I go through my head of how many of my plans are changing and what I need to do right now, I always end up back in awe of how God’s hand is so perfectly over all of this. 

I had a plan for the rest of my semester at Auburn. I had a plan for how I wanted my summer to go. I’m sure you can relate. However, how amazing is it that no matter how many plans we make for our life that God can wreck that in an instant. 

Now let me define wrecked. Wrecked is defined as destroyed or severely damaged. When I think about how God has wrecked my life in the past, it's not pretty. In fact, I probably look like I've been in a wreck. *insert laughing face emoji lol* But it is in those moments where God is intervening in my life with His truth, that I'm usually face down (most likely crying tbh) and completely surrendered to what God has placed in front of me. 

In those moments where God is "wrecking" our lives, He's creating new life in us- He takes that "destroyed or severely damaged" part of our life and breathes HIS new life into it. I’m picturing what this has looked like for me in the past- when God has wrecked me with a truth that changes my heart. While everything leading up to that moment might be filled with pain, I’m reminded of how freeing it is to be able to walk with God through it.  

The kind of God breathed life I'm talking about can't be given to you through becoming tik toc famous overnight, finding the last role of toilet paper in the store (quarantine jokes will never get old) or getting more likes than Sally on your Instagram post. This new life is sustainable, it's all consuming, and it renews us. It’s given to us through scripture, a friend, a sermon, or maybe even in a place you would least expect to see the Lord. 

As I'm living through this quarantine processing the unknowns and new anxieties brought on by the virus, I am reminded of why my faith is in Jesus. When I look back at moments where God has intervened in my life, wrecking me with his truth and bringing me new life, His faithfulness is so evident. He was there walking alongside me, guiding me the whole time.   

Why would he stop now? 

My plan is not God's plan and how cool is it that we can put our trust and faith in God to lead us through this uncharted territory. These may be new waters, but this is our same God.  

He is sovereign. 

He is good. 

He has a plan for your life. 

He sees you, your struggles, and your heart. 

And He wants to guide YOU through whatever you may be facing today.

So, I just wanted to write this post today to encourage you because this is something God has laid on my heart to share. I'm praying for each one of you who reads this, genuinely, and I can't thank you enough for your support. Right now, the trip to Costa Rica is still on track to happen so I'm hoping and praying that it stays that way! I hope you are doing well and that hopefully these words gave you a little boost of encouragement and maybe even challenged you to open up your bible and read what God might be trying to speak to you.  

Virtual hugs!!! 

 -Claire

 Proverbs 16:3 “Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.”