“There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.” – Luke 2:36-38
“If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” I’ve heard this quote often dealing with the importance of planning. Plans provide us with direction and helps us focus. Plans are important and have their place but what I have come to learn is that there is one thing our plans cannot predict: life.
Life is a variable that can be difficult to predict. Our plans may be going as we envisioned then all of a sudden ourselves or a family member is diagnosed with cancer. You were on the fast track in your company, moving up the corporate ladder then the company downsizes and your position was cut. We have plans but what do we do when life alters those plans?
We find the prophet Anna who had been married for seven years and then life happened when her husband died. I’m sure Anna had plans for her and her husband and their life together. Anna probably had plans of children and living a long life with her husband but life intervened. When life came unannounced Anna did what she knew to do, she worshipped. Anna found herself in the temple day and night, fasting, praying and worshipping God. Anna did not allow the stumbling block that life presented her affect her worship. Anna did not lose her hope. In spite of life’s obstacle, she remained faithful and she was able to witness God’s redemption in the person of Jesus.
Today I want to encourage you to continue to worship God and don’t lose hope whenever unexpected occurrences and obstacles happen in life. God never promised us an easy life, but God did promise to never leave us nor forsake us. Life will come and when it does remember that God is with you when it arrives. When life happens, let’s be like Anna and keep the faith. Continue fasting, praying, worshiping, singing, dancing, reading your scripture, going to church, helping the poor, fighting for justice, loving, forgiving, and living. Keep the faith and keep living and God will meet you with God’s redemption.
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Consider This... 