When God Has Other Plans
By Sarah Hamaker
Our school year started off like any other—excitement, anticipation, and varying degrees of enthusiasm from our four children. As a work-from-home freelance writer and parent coach, I was looking forward to having a quiet house once again after the hustle and bustle of summer.
But God had other plans.
On the first day of school, after sending our junior and sophomore daughters off to high school, one son off to seventh grade, and the other son to sixth grade, I settled into my workday in blessed silence. But by mid-morning, my husband had come home, having been laid off. It wasn’t totally unexpected, but, as the family breadwinner, losing a steady stream of income and our family’s health insurance was a little unsettling.
Knowing that, living that, breathing that in the good times gave us the strength to immediately praise God for His goodness in providing that job for nearly a dozen years. And we know that all things work together for the good of those who trust in him. The very next day, my husband dusted off his resume and began job hunting. We settled into the new reality of both of us at home during the day.
But God had other plans.
Just over a week after being let go, my husband had a medical emergency that necessitated a trip to the ER, followed quickly by a transfer to a hospital, emergency brain surgery, and a four -day stay in the hospital. At the front of this, I had to figure out health insurance for my husband. During this new crisis, our church family rallied even tighter around us with prayers and meals, support and hugs.
And we again praised God for his goodness to us. For providing health insurance just in time. For a quick diagnosis and corrective surgery. For my husband’s good recovery and the time to do so at a slower pace than he would have if he’d been employed.
Some would look at our September and see nothing but bad news. We chose to view the events as good news. Whatever happens, we’re promised that it’s for our good and God’s glory. We don’t know when my husband will find work or how long his full recovery will take. We don’t know why these two events happened close together.
But we don’t need to know. When God has other plans, it’s tempting to think it means God doesn’t care or that we’re not doing what we’re supposed to do. Right now, we’re clinging to God’s promises and in the knowledge that we are loved, we are cared for, and we will persevere.
As we head into Thanksgiving, we are indeed counting our blessings. Even in the midst of wants, we have plenty. And we are rejoicing in the other plans God has for us.
Sarah Hamaker has been spinning stories since she was a child. Her stories have appeared in several Chicken Soup for the Soul books. Her Christmas romantic suspense novella, Mistletoe & Murder, is out now. Her romantic suspense novel,Dangerous Christmas Memories, comes out in November 2019. She also won the 2015 American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis Award for romantic suspense. Sarah is a member of ACFW and the ACFW Virginia Chapter, as well as the president of Capital Christian Writers Fellowship. Sarah lives in Virginia with her husband, four children, and three cats. Connect with her at sarahhamakerfiction.com.
Alec Stratman comes home to Twin Oaks, Virginia, after his Army retirement to contemplate his reentry into civilian life. Instead he’s greeted with the murder of his beloved Great-Aunt Heloise.
For Isabella Montoya, the loss of Heloise Stratman Thatcher goes beyond the end of a job. Heloise had encouraged Isabella to follow her dreams and helped fund her studies. Now, accused of her mentor’s murder, Isabella is scrambling to prove her innocence.
Since his great-aunt had written glowing letters about Isabella, Alec is unwilling to believe the police’s suspicion of the former housekeeper. Instead, he works to help clear her name.
Will Isabella and Alec be able to navigate the secrets that threaten to derail their budding romance and uncover the truth about Heloise’s death before the killer strikes again?
You can find Mistletoe and Murder on Amazon now. And Sarah has agreed to giveaway an eBook copy to a lucky commenter! Winner will be drawn on Wednesday, October 23rd and announced here.
THE FINE PRINT: CONTEST VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. ONLY US RESIDENTS WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE A PAPERBACK COPY. EACH COMMENTER IS ASSIGNED A NUMBER AND THE WINNER IS DRAWN USING RANDOM.ORG. WINNERS WILL HAVE TWO WEEKS FROM THE DATE OF THE DRAWING TO CLAIM THEIR PRIZE.
sara l foust 
Oh, how I can relate!! I lost my job in November, 2011. I thought for sure I’d get another job. I did, but it didn’t work out. I was still sure I needed to be working, another job came along, it didn’t work out. In January 2012, Mom and I both were praying (like we had been!) but this time it was different. Instead of what job, it was what do You want? The answer was that I needed to be home with Mom. I’ve been home ever since. I also, now, am a licensed insurance agent, so that’s how I pay bills. It’s not as much as when I was working, but it gets me by, and it’s all I need. God will provide!! Since I’m home with Mom, I can go to our ladies Bible study, and now I’m one of the facilitators. God had a plan, it wasn’t what I thought, but I sure am happy doing what I do!
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Wow!! Thank you for sharing. And thank you for this wonderful chance. I love discovering new authors and great books like this one.
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Sometimes God does have other plans! My youngest daughter passed away 2 years ago from a very rare and aggressive cancer in her sinuses. Out of this God blessed me with a fantastic job as an Oncology nurse!
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Thank you for this wonderful opportunity! I love finding new authors and this comes at a time in my life where I need a good distraction from my journey through drugs and alcohol with my daughter. I have been praying for her to want to get help and I believe my prayer is being answered.
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When I was diagnosed with Lymphoma back in 2011 the devil took up residence and kept telling me I wouldn’t see the next Christmas, I wouldn’t see my granddaughter grow up, etc. I couldn’t sleep because that was all I could think about. Finally I got prayers specific to cancer, praying them whenever I had a minute, and kicked him out of my life! Here I am, a little over 7 years out from treatments and doing well. Thank you Jesus!
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It’s a constant struggle to remember that God has a plan in place for us and to stay open to his constant favor and live loved. This post is a great reminder and also a very generous giveaway.
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Wow can we relate. My husband had a wonderful job when I got really sick and was in the hospital and then rehab. He lost his job and finally found a seasonal one. He has been looking for a full time job for three years now but our bills are always paid and we always have food on the table. God is always faithful.
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God is good all of the time and all of the time God is good…..but sometimes in the midst of life that s a challenge to remember. We have been where we did not know how we were going to put food on the tables for our girls let alone pay the mortgage, etc. But God always provided and sometimes in some pretty miraculous ways. Praise God you have been able to continue allowing it to build and strengthen your faith! I will be praying for your circumstances and that a God will bless you in ways beyond your wildest imagination.
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What a great story of Faith you shared. God has a plan for all of us, but sometimes it is hard to figure just where He is taking us! That is where faith and trust in Him comes in!
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I think everyone has had a time when plans were changed. For us, in less than a year after I was determined disabled and started getting disability payments, my husband had to leave his job of fifteen years. Thankfully we had savings and my disability money. God has orchestrated in so many ways His provision, despite my times of worry. I started listing the ways and in print it does amaze me.
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We can always find something to be thankful for! God is good!
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It’s good to be grateful for what comes our way.
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After almost four years of infertility I really appreciated your closing comment: “When God has other plans, it’s tempting to think it means God doesn’t care or that we’re not doing what we’re supposed to do. Right now, we’re clinging to God’s promises and in the knowledge that we are loved, we are cared for, and we will persevere.”
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What a great example of focusing on God’s goodness during trials. I needed that reminder! Thank you for sharing your story. Praying for a quick recovery for your husband , as well as a new job opportunity. And this book looks wonderful! I can’t wait to hunt it down on Amazon. .
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Thank you for this opportunity. I love your books.
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Its a constant struggle to remember that everything is god plans you might not understand why at the time but he knows and you have to just go with the flow
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This sounds like a wonderful story. Thanks for the opportunity to try to win a copy.
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When hard times come we learn to lean on the Lord. I went through a terrible depression 24 years ago when my son was sentenced to just about life in prison. I learned that I could only trust in Jesus and wait on him and place my son into his hands. God is faithful.
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We have gone through a hardship like yours with unemployment and scary health issues. God was faithful and we are now both employed again and my husband is healed! It really brings your focus to how God centered foundation can hold you up!.
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What a great story I think this would be similiar to what happened to me. For the past 34+ yearsI have been battling RSD. This disease took over 60 doctors all thru the bay area to diagnois and then one neurologist saw it and how it was going and right away knew what it was. I was shocked that after all that time he knew. I went to a pain clinic and that was a waste of my deductible and it was just procedures that they couldn’t do. Well my foster mom came over with some concoction that she got from Hawaii that was supposed to help me and also drive all the evil spirits away as my husband at the time loved every woman he saw so these flowers going all over were to help. For me God was the only one and that was the faith that i stick to now and every day., I pray and pray have lost several friends to this and still it progresses. Nothing I can do but pray and have faith and all the people around me also. The mens group in our church tried getting holy water and helping me well i can;t say did or did not help but the pain is so bad. The meds i am on are supposed to help but now with this epidemic this is getting lowered even on me. So now it is traveling up i have 1/4 hearing in one ear and that is it. Plus other personal things that are going on with the body. I love reading and that has gotten as far as i am. Also that and my son and his family as they just had a baby over the weeked they are in Ca and i am in Ia so bad news but made them many blankets.
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Thank you, everyone, for all of your insightful, story-sharing comments! Vivian Furbay is the winner!
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