As a freshman in college I was nervous and excited to move into the dorms and start a new chapter in my life. I had previously seen a friend's photo of her beautifully decorated four person, spacious dorm room. There were cream walls and coordinating bedspread/decor. I envisioned and prepared for the room I would have. The day arrived and mom and I carried in all of my stuff. What I hadn't anticipated was the fact that there were two types of dorms, with the one I was assigned nicknamed, the Bricks. Yep, you guessed it. All four walls in my small, two person room were red brick. I just stood there for a minute and looked around. Then I said the words that my mom has teased me about, occasionally, ever since, "This was not what I expected!".

I had three choices.

1. I could quit right there and go back home.

2. I could stay and complain that things weren't what I invisioned.

3. I could accept it for what it was and make the best of it.

I chose number 3. I knew this was God's will for my life no matter if it was not my plan.
How many times in life have we faced circumstances and said those words? "This is not what I expected!" In marriage, as a mom, as a daughter, at a job, as a friend, or even as a Pastors wife things don't go the way "we" plan.
Isaiah 55:8"For my ways are not your ways, neither are my thoughts your thoughts, said the Lord.
We all have a tendency to envision what our life will be like but rarely is that reality. Have I faced sorrow, pain, abuse, and trials? Yes. We all have in our own way. But that doesn't mean God isn't good. We don't always understand WHY we go through things but God allows us to experience all of life. The good AND the bad. We grow through what we experience. We take away more than what is taken from us. God has given me Grace, Peace, Strength and the Assurance that He is my Heavenly Father and I am secure in His arms.
If I hadn't been placed in the brick dorms I would probably not have come to know Janet Slama Oh. She was my first roommate. She had a internal happiness and a work ethic that I admired. I still do. She and her Husband, Bro. Henry Oh, are still faithfully serving the Lord.
So look back and see all the hard times and then look at at what God has "given" to you through those trials. They saying, "Hindsight is 20/20, doesn't always apply. We don't always understand why things happen to us but we when we are sitting at Jesus' feet we will know.Life may not be what you expected but accept it, make the best of it, or allow God to move you out of those circumstances and keep trusting Him. Mankind may not, but HE doeth ALL things well.