Friday, June 21, 2013

QUE SERA, SERA, WHAT WILL BE WILL BE: Devotional by Lorilyn Roberts



     

Que Sera, Sera, What Will Be, Will Be

by Lorilyn Roberts



Even though I don’t know my future, I will sleep well tonight. If I were a betting woman in my dreams, I’d make two predictions—I will not win a million dollars in the lottery—I don’t play, and I will never be President—thank goodness. You couldn’t pay me enough for that job. My older daughter used to tell me I’d make an excellent President—back before I became dumb during the teenage years. Fortunately, I have become smart again, since she turned twenty-one.

Now I get to go through being dumb all over again. My second daughter is at that age when boys flirt and cars excite. I worry once more—and remind myself God hears my heart-felt prayers. Maybe I’m a little wiser—certainly a little older. At least I know what to expect the second time around. I have to admit, I look forward to the day I become smart once again, unless dementia sets in. We won’t talk about that.

When I was nine, one of my favorite songs was Que Sera, Sera; Whatever Will Be Will Be. My dreams for the future did not include infertility, infidelity, and all the injustices that come from living in a fallen world. When we are young, we are closer to God—before innocence is torn from us by sin. Kids easily believe in miracles or magic—call it what you want. No wonder when we are old, we must become like little children. Are we redeemed enough to see our Savior through the darkened glass of shattered dreams? A child sees the glory of a risen king—and asks no questions.

In retrospect, I am thankful God did not give me most of the things I wanted. He gave me what I needed. God’s gifts don’t always come wrapped in pretty boxes. They arrive in more mysterious ways. Sometimes it takes time to see His workings, and for somebody like me who is impatient, that is tough.

It would have been much easier to go to a store and pick up a book that read, How to Get Your Life Straightened Out, or How to Fix Your Broken Marriage, or How To Be Dumb During the Teenage Years. Just kidding. I didn’t need a prompt for that. I could read the book in a weekend, and bravo, come Monday morning, I’d have my life all straightened out. That would be so efficient. So like me.

God knew better. He knew I needed time—only time would grow me into the Christian woman He desired me to be. Only through the years where wisdom seeds itself would understanding be revealed—to write the passion of my soul and feel God’s spirit through my words. God knew above all my heart and how I longed for children. Only He knew how to make that a reality (Lord knows, I tried).
       
Isaiah 55:8 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. Someday I hope to fully understand what that means. It’s one of those “mysteries” that God will need to explain to me—if I still wonder after I see His scarred hands and feet. 

When I was married and shortly before my husband left for good, I read this passage and implored of God, “Oh, please, let not your ways include divorce. I don’t want a divorce.” I became paranoid. I trusted a husband who had been unfaithful more than I trusted my heavenly Father who died for me. I feared the ridicule of my family and church, the whispers, and that the ugly wounds from childhood would bite me once again. Was I not even good enough to keep a husband?

Now I chuckle. On any given day, I may not be good enough for the most mundane task. I have learned to laugh at myself—even when I am the only one laughing. My daughters will tell you.

I remember that the time is fleeting, the pain temporary, and the future extraordinary. So I peck away at the typewriter, certain that I won’t go to jail for not filing my taxes—I just finished them today, and am glad to live another day. Why? So I can get out of bed in the morning, go to work, and pay more taxes.

I will remember to feed the dogs in the evening (or they will yelp), set the air conditioner to 77 when I go to bed (or I will sweat), and will fill up the car with gas—usually it’s on empty. That makes life exciting. I won’t speed down 39th Avenue where that female police officer lurks behind a sign (I would know), and I will get my half and half at Publix so my coffee will taste almost as good as Starbucks. I am still working hard to kick that habit.

If your life is like mine, most of it boils down to the mundane, the ridiculous, or the absurd. Without my Lord and Savior to remind me that this is “my passion,” I think I’d go insane. God’s voice inside me removes the edge, lowers my blood pressure, and convicts me of what’s important. He helps me to remember to pray for those who are hurting, and I delight myself in His Word—and wonder why I fail to read the Bible more often. Or curl up on the sofa with my Kindle and get lost in one of the books begging to be read—and write reviews for authors who wait with baited breath. I would know that, too.

I’d fail to find goodness in the land of the living without my relationship with Jesus Christ. His Spirit brings me hope—for my daughters to marry Christian men and have a dozen kids; for my future—to live into my 90’s like my grandparents; and forgiveness for my past sins—even the ones I don’t remember.

God gives me the drive to live life to the fullest—work hard, play hard, and not to sweat the small stuff. The small stuff is what trips me up, but I remind myself I will never run out of stories. I just need to be careful I don’t trip over my seven-pound cat. Even our Border collie knows better.

Regrets—don’t play that game. You will never catch a glimpse of the marvelous future held in store for you if you keep looking back. Even though the future is not ours to see—we see through a glass darkly for a little while longer—thankfully, we have an awesome God who sees clearly—in colors we can’t imagine. And I bet even wrinkles, gray hair, and fat bellies look grand. Que sera, sera; whatever will be, will be.

****


Lorilyn Roberts is a Christian author who writes children's picture books, adult nonfiction, memoirs, and a young adult Christian fantasy series, Seventh Dimension. The first in the series, The Door, was just published.

Lorilyn graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Alabama, which included international study in Israel and England. She received her Masters in Creative Writing from Perelandra College and is a graduate of the Institute of Children's Literature.

Lorilyn is the founder of the John 316 Marketing Network, a network of Christian authors who are passionate about promoting books with a Christian worldview. Visit Lorilyn's website at LorilynRoberts.com to learn more about her books.





24 comments:

  1. I really enjoyed your blog post, very inspiring. Not looking at the past but let us fix our eyes on Jesus Christ, our future. SANA

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  2. I always enjoy your posts: here, goggle+ ,Facebook,and Twitter. I've followed you for some time now, and what I like about your writing is that you are down to earth. Right here with us , the struggling Christians trying hard ,but not quite making it. I'm measuring by so called worldly standards now, but always we know that the one we follow, the Lord Jesus, is more than enough for us.

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  3. Thanks, Sana and Janet. I like to imagine someday I might be a female version of Max Lucado. I love his style, and perhaps his writings have influenced mine:)
    I hope you enjoy the blog hop and win some prizes.

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  4. Thank you for your blog post. Inspiring to say the least. I agree to, whatever will be, will be :) My daughter is turing 15 this year and patience is something I need to learn *sigh*

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  5. I enjoyed your post, you are just like a bunch of other people,I did a lot of soul searching and praying when my boys were growing up and now its for my grandchildren and all. When you stop caring, life is over.. I would love for my granddaughter to read either the Donkey and THe King or the oldest granddaughter The Door, sounds great...

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  6. That was a beautiful blog post. It was inspiring and such a good reminder for me to remember that the way I see things are not the way God sees things.
    Thanks for the contest opportunity.
    Brittany McEuen

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  7. I really enjoyed your blog post. I too loved Que sera sera. Loved Doris Day movies. I can sympathize with the dumb years with a teenager and the blessing when we smarten up again. LOL You are just a ways down the road in Odessa. I have friends there.

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  8. Great blog post. I also loved the song and Doris Day movies. You gave me a smile. I think we all have the dumb years.

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  9. It is so true with the quote Que sera sera. What will be, will be. There is no questions about it. Isaiah 55:8 say it all. God has a grand plan for each of us but we don't always want to do as instructed. Thanks for the giveaway and the inspirational message.

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  10. Thanks for this opportunity to learn about new authors.
    susanlulu@yahoo.com

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  11. Thank you for sharing your blog with us! I love the fact that I relate to you in the lottery non-winners section of the world! I too never play...I can always find better things to spend my money on..BOOKS being the main one! LOL

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  12. thx u for hosting this giveaway..i like ur blog :)

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  13. So true - I can identify with your story.

    bonnieroof60@yahoo.com

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  14. Great blog post, so inspiring.. thanks for the giveaway.

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  15. Thanks for sharing. I have found this true for myself , too. Jesus is always the answer. Like the Hill song Untied song goes: God be the solution!

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  16. I really enjoyed your post. Everything that you have posted is so true. Jesus is the answer and the only answer that I need. This was so inspiring to me. Thank you for sharing and for the amazing and generous giveaway!

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  17. I think your post is very inspirational and will help a lot of people who are struggling with different issues.

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  18. I enjoyed this post very much... I always liked that song, too. It's very hard not to play the regrets game sometimes, but I know it's important. And yes, God sees the future clearly. That's all that matters. ~Katharina angelsandmusic[at]gmail[dot]com

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  19. i think your post is great and very inspirational. Thank you for the very generous
    giveaway

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  20. This is an emotional, uplifting blog post. Thank you so much for baring your soul and sharing this post.

    Brooke Bumgardner
    brooke811 at ymail.com

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  21. Great post! I like the title of it as well :) Thanks for the giveaway.

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  22. Thank you for all your wonderful comments. I wish I could give each of you a free $25 Amazon gift certificate. The Rafflecopter picks the winner at random, but there will also be two winners of my Seventh Dimension - The Door book as well as a Kindle winner of my Children of Dreams book.

    Thank you for visiting my blog site, and I hope once a month to offer more gift certificates in the future. I have two more book coming out in the next couple of months, Devotions From the Seventh Dimension and Food For Thought, a cookbook for homeschooling families. I will add you to my email list so you will know when they are available. Thanks again for visiting my site. I will check the Rafflecopter for the winner by tomorrow -- when I know the time has expired for entrants. May God bless each one of you:)

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