August 21, 2024

LifeDate Fall 2024 – Hope and a Future

Photo above: On the train from Frankfurt to Amsterdam. 

by Mona Fuerstenau

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope’” (Jeremiah 29:11).

As a parent of a son with developmental disabilities, I know I am not alone in asking this question. I spent a number of years asking God that question or variations on that theme. How is this your plan? What do I do? This was not MY plan! Who will help me? What will the future be? And over the course of my career in disability advocacy and ministry, I’ve met and worked with hundreds of parents who had their own variations on those questions, comments, doubts, and fears.

Periodically I caught a glimpse of God’s plan in action, one that I had an active part in working out. The young counselor at Lutherwood family camp who said her interaction with my then two-year-old son helped her decide to pursue special education. The pastor who said he felt my son minister to his soul as they looked into each other’s eyes during the blessing at communion. The five-year-old bully in kindergarten who became his champion instead.  And so many more throughout his now nearly 33 years. Moments that came as we went about life, being and doing what other families with and without disabilities do.

Once I stepped outside my emotions, I began to see the impact my son had on those around him. I am so grateful for those moments that showed me God’s plan. That encouraged me when I searched for hope. And I have found some Scriptures that have resonated with me that I return to regularly for encouragement. There are no caveats on these promises. They are for ALL of God’s people.

God’s carefully crafted plan for my son was made specifically for him as we are reminded in Psalm 139:13-16: “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made … Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.”

My hope is found in 1 Peter 4:10: “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”

And peace about the future I find in Ephesians 3:20: “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.”

I know these doubts and fears and emotions exist about any of our plans that don’t go the way we envisioned. And it would be easy to ask, “What plan? What hope? What future?”  I pray these verses encourage you along your journey of God’s plan.