If you go back two whole blogs, to my first one from almost two years ago, you will see I had this amazing goal.  I was going to write photography/spiritual/whatever was going on in my head blogs.  I was really excited about that.  But life happened, I got busy, and I've not posted in quite some time.  Not that God hasn't been generous in giving me ideas but me getting them written is a whole different story.

Well here goes with my first one of the year.  It was inspired by photography failure.  Let me tell ya, there are a whole lot of those in my life.

Failure is a word that we are all too well aquainted with.  There are days where it seems everything I do is a huge fail.  Let's see just how long this list can be?  I have my moments of failing as a Christian, wife, mother, friend, daughter, sister.  I've burned dinner (taco shells burn like paper in case you didn't know).  The house isn't clean.  The clothes aren't washed.  Didn't have time to read my bible.  Not enough time for prayer.  We forget birthdays, anniversaries, and who knows what else.  We don't always pay the bills on time, or get the oil changed when we need to.  

On a larger scale, we may not have the career we dreamed of or the house we wanted.  We don't live where we planned to.  Health issues come unexpected.  Marriage isn't easy and kids aren't perfect.  Finances are a struggle.  Addictions we never planned for control us.  Tragedies we couldn't have possibly known creep up on us.  We've let people down, they've let us down. Life just does not seem fair, most things aren't what we signed up for.

Some days, weeks, and years- it feels as though nothing is as we planned.  The good thing about that is when things turn out different we learn to accept challenges or limitations.  When things turn out opposite of the plan, we learn to make adjustments.  We learn to live with less.  But less is not always less.  Sometimes less is a lesson, or an improvement.  Its often God's free college course on humility.  Because isn't humility to act of learning to have a modest or lower view.  Is it even possible to get there without challenges, limitations, or unexpected endings.  I don't think so.

I feel like with every life alteration, whether it's due to failure or not, I am beginning to gain a better understanding of Romans 8:28.  

And we know that all things work together

for good to those who love God

and are called according to His purpose.

This verse is so simple.  So complex.  Incredibly mysterious.  It factors in our choices, failures, accomplishments, tragedies, right along with God's authority and sovereignty.  It doesn't take a whole lot of creativity to unpack it.  Do you love God?  And by "love", I mean believe in, trust in, and rely upon.  If you answer yes and you've committed your life to Him, you are called according to His purpose!  That's great news because it means no matter how messy things get, how wrong they seem, how unexpected they are, that it will all somehow work together for good.

This is not a good we will always be able to see.  We might not ever be able to make sense of the big picture in the way that God does.  It will be frustrating at times to feel that we worked for one thing and gotten another.  But you know what?  It's going to be ok.  Were going to keep on keeping on.  God is going to keep on keeping on...and life becomes way easier when we get on board with the fact that He knows how to work things for our good.

And let me show you a little proof.  The Glitter Shot.  Several weeks ago I was doing a senior photo shoot for Miss Mikah Boyd.  She didn't ask for much but she really wanted a glitter shot.  And I would have loved to deliver.  This is one of the hardest working kids I know, smart, and dedicated, valedictorian of her class.  She wants a glitter shot, she should definitely have one.

We get all situated for the shot.  Hands full of glitter.  We've got it all planned out.  We will try with eyes closed, and eyes opened.  We've discussed how horrible one can look when they are actually blowing the glitter.  I've considered lighting, distance, aperture, shutter speed, all the things that matter for this picture to turn out.  Well have a look below to see what we ended up with.

I know, I know.  There isn't any glitter.  But isn't she beautiful!  And would you believe this turned out to be one her favorites out of about 80 options.  This glitter-less glitter shot is one she choose for her invitation.  It wasn't as planned, but it was better.  It wasn't what she asked for because she would have never known to ask for this.  

It's like life.  We aim for one direction but land in another.  It isn't God's way of making it hard, it's His way of making it great.  

I'm so thankful that in the midst of my failures, accomplishments and everything in between- I've got a God who knows how to give me just what I need even when I've no clue that I need it. That's a lot of pressure off of us.  We follow Him, trust Him, and we can know that He is working Good things.  This is not always an easy road.  But it is a Good road.

I think we would be wise to re-evaluate often.  To ask ourselves if this wrong turn is such a bad place to be.  Maybe it is, maybe it isn't.  Ask God to help you make your next step.  In doing so He will guide your next turn, and bring you to your next road.  It's really our ability to see Him in every place we go that will grow our faith and help us stand.  Christian, be assured that He has good plans for you.  He leads, you follow, and the good will unfold.