A Good Plan

It hit me out of the blue this past Monday night. The moments of missing her often come like that - quick, powerful, and there so fast it's almost hard to remember where it came from. And in the midst of it I found myself asking the Lord this: "how is this situation pleasing to you?" This thought kept rolling around in my head, something about the "pleasing" part would not let go. Yes, I know that God is getting glory from Poppy's story - we are blessedly aware and so thankful for that. But what about the part that something this difficult would look "good" to Him? Tuesday was much of the same, the same thought swirling, not satisfied by the truth I was speaking to it. Then as I was tucking in for the night, I grabbed my bible (this particular version is the 365 day NLT) and started reading ahead the chapters for today, July 29. I am currently in Isaiah, in the chapters where Isaiah is revealing what will be Jesus' fate - what will be done on the cross through him. The words are so powerful, they are even written as if the cross had already happened, but Isaiah was centuries (?) before that event would take place. And this is what I read:

"But it was the LORD’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the LORD’s good plan will prosper in his hands. When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins." Isaiah 53:10-11

It was the Lord's good plan for His son to die. I can't imagine at the time - if I had been physically at the foot of the cross - that the Lord's plan would have looked good. But it was, and through His son we were redeemed and made heirs to the throne. She was redeemed, and His plan for us - and her - is good.