About a month ago, after our third miscarriage, a friend of mine bought me the book Plan B: What Do You Do When God Doesn't Show Up the Way You Thought He Would? by Pete Wilson. I love books. I think God uses the written word to work in peoples' lives. But never before have I read a book that literally changed my life. Allow me to explain how.
If you've been reading my blog from the beginning, you know we've had a rough year. (Rough is probably an understatement.) It's been the worst year of my life thus far. Parents shouldn't have to see their children die. They shouldn't have to answer questions like, what do you want to do with your child's remains?
I guess before this year, I thought life was at least somewhat fair. Good things happen to good people; bad things happen to bad people. Sure, occasionally, God will allow a bad thing into a good person's life. But by and large, he protects us from the really awful pains of life. This year, I learned that it's just not true. God doesn't always protect his people from the awful pains of life. In fact, sometimes it seems like the really good people have even more awful things than the bad.
Plan B helped me be okay with this reality. It helped me learn that in spite of my circumstances, God still loves me. It didn't answer all my questions, but in some strange way, I'm glad it didn't. Life's just not that simple. Pete Wilson was honest about suffering. He didn't sugar-coat it or provide fluff answers to huge problems. He took an honest look at how to get through a Plan B situation. How to survive a storm without losing your faith.
If you're in the middle of a Plan B situation, this book is for you. If you're wondering why God seems to be ignoring your prayers, this book is for you. If you feel abandoned by the God you thought you could count on, please read this book. Who knows? Maybe it'll change your life too.
Pete Wilson, if you happen to stumble across this post, thank you. For sharing the words that God laid on your heart. For being honest with your readers. And for offering a lifeline to those of us who feel like we are drowning in tears. Don't allow any negative review of this book (if there are any) to get you down. God has (and is) using you to change lives.
And Tim and Daphne, thank you for buying me this book. God used your hands and your generosity to heal my heart. I have recommended the book already to numerous hurting souls, so who knows how many people are going to be changed by your one act of kindness?
I'm glad that it could help you as much as it did me. It's amazing how something as simple as giving a book to a friend can impact so many people.
ReplyDeleteHang in there - you guys are awesome and I know God's going to use what you've gone through to help other people who have had similar experiences. Who knows - maybe God will use your story to help someone the way he used Plan B to help you.
Wow Lindsey. Thanks so much for your kind words and I can't tell you how much it means to me to hear the book brought you some hope during this difficult time.
ReplyDeletePraying for continued healing!
(And Tim, thanks for being such a good friend to this family)
Pete