What’s Your Five-Year Plan?
Remember that question?
I never liked it.
It seemed inherently wrong.

I realize you must plan. 
When we’d go on any trip, Joey would get us there. 
I’d get us there comfortably–fed, warm, hydrated, and entertained.
That required planning with a purpose.

I understand the rationale behind planning.
“Aim at nothing. Hit it every time.”

Many businesses plan for five and twenty-five years. 
Even churches plan for greater numbers.
But I always felt that was wrong.
Allow the numbers to rest with God. He brings the growth. Of course, through His people's obedience.

Psalms 37:23 says, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.”

When Abraham was told to leave his home, he didn’t know where he was going.
He was told by God to go. And he went. 
God would tell him what he needed, when he needed it.

Often, when one of our boys was small, he'd ask what we were going to do all day. That led to how, then why then he would present a different option...
I learned quickly he only needed to know what the next step was. 
Anything further out and he was already changing my plans.
Or he would hurry through the one step so he could do what he wanted.

Are we like that with God?
We got the church service over, now I can do what I want!
We must ask God and wait for His answer.

When my son hurried me to answer him about the plans for "his day." 
I waited to answer. 
He wasn't ready to listen. He wasn't listening to me. 
He was in a hurry to get back to his stuff.
Sometimes my devotions seem hurried. "I need the answer, NOW."
But the answer isn't found in the NOW.
It is found in the WAIT.

God doesn't give us His five-year plan or even the plan for our lives.

As our boys struggled with “what to do with their lives” I told them no one knew. (Not encouraging, though truthful.) 
Not many people stay in the occupation where they first started. 
But we DO know what the next step is. Just Do It!
And if we don’t know that next step, we know Who to ask.

After hearing comments throughout 2020 about how plans were impossible, I wondered if this would cause more people to ask the One Who knew?
But all I heard was people wanted things back to normal.
Not to look to God, but to get back to their plans.

My 2020 year, though filled with many changes, was lived no different than other years. 
I did the next thing. 
We homeschooled, like normal.
I bulk shopped, like normal except that many things weren't available or were more expensive.
My day-to-day routine, though changed with moving, wasn’t controlled by what happened in the world.  
See what I mean?

I have no five-year plan. 
As an early mother with ambition, I remember I had lists of things to accomplish for the day. I learned early on those lists only frustrated me as interruption after interruption changed my plans.

I’ve been writing on my website for over five years. (Who would have thought?)
I could get discouraged by my low numbers, or by how few books I’ve sold, or by how little my writing shows any impact. 
Initially I got caught up in “my followers”, my twitter account, what I must do that every other author is doing. 

But I stepped back from all that when I evaluated what God wanted me to do.
Sometimes I still look at my low numbers and ask, "Should I continue to write?" (A good question.)
I certainly didn’t reach any of my anticipated dreams when I started!
But I went back to the advice I’d give to my boys, “Do the next thing.”
And make sure that I am seeking God in that next thing.
Psalms 37:23 still is true.
God hasn't told me to do anything different.
Although I do feel the urgency to know His Word so much more.

2020 was traumatic for a lot of people. 
Why?
Because what they planned, didn’t happen.
In fact, nothing was as they planned.
Weddings venues were cancelled.
Family vacations were postponed.
People lost their jobs.
America businesses lost their five-year plans. 
Some may never come back.
Concern for America's future should be in everyone’s prayers.

People didn't advance toward their five-year goals during 2020.
Instead they must look to the One Who directs their steps.
Not their year, but their next step.

Why was it not traumatic for me?
(I'm not saying 2020 wasn’t filled with changes and problems, because it was.) 
But my plans were not upset. 
Because I had no plans.

How do I do that?
I look to God for my next step.

We still are at the rental house.
We have not looked for a house or property for two months. (Joey felt we needed to wait until January.) 
Do I pine for tomorrow, when I can feel settled?
No. I miss some of my junk that’s buried in the shed. But only because I could use it now.
Or anticipate the boys having more to do with a bit more land.
I struggle with being content, because of whom I miss (greatly).
But we are where we are supposed to be right now.

What do I do today? 
I ask God. 
Most of the time, it's the same thing I did yesterday. 
School. Laundry. Dinner. 
I’ve started walking and exercising (after I gained 15 lbs. from moving).
It’s the routine of life.

We look to the future and ask, “How should we prepare?”
It comes back to what I tell my boys, “Do the next thing.”

What can happen in five years? 
More than you or I will ever know.
But we know Who directs our steps to get there.
And we trust Him.

I write about what matters...to you---
women, wives and moms---
about your family, faith and future.
I write about what's hard, what helps and what heals.
I show you how it's done. And not done.
I hold your hand as you find what matters to the Savior.
And let go of those things that mattered to you, but not to Him.
I write about what matters...to Him.
               Sonya Contreras

Faith
Find more articles about faith here:
When God Speaks
Be Thankful
Be Grateful
Are You Tired of the Same, Old Thing?
  (reprint)
Laughter—Why Laugh?
Mom
Are You Disturbed?
Unity of the Brothers
Encouragements To Declutter
Do You Have Too Much Stuff?
Too Much Stress
Getting Past the Noise—The Value of Silence
Are You Scatterbrained?
How Good Are You?
Looking for Something Good To Read?
A Cup of Cold Water
I Will Trust When I Cannot See
Encouragement—What Is It?
Being in God's Presence
"Einstein and the Professor"
When God Is Silent
Do You Crave Beauty?
Using Stories to Discipline
The Danger of the Wrong Story
Using Stories to Teach Lessons
God is in charge of the future
November Dare Joy Challenge
Ungratefulness
Developing an Attitude of Gratitude
Looking for Jesus
What Do Your Prayers Reflect?
Life's Little Pleasures
Daniel—Greatly Loved by God
Take Every Thought
Jars of Clay
What Do Your Words Reveal about Your Heart?
How Do You Get Strong Faith?
Too Busy for God's Word?
How Do You Think Like Jesus?
Reflections from a Mom
Pain—What's It Good For?
Why Marry?
Consider the Robin
One Life Who Made a Difference
What Day Are You Living In?
Interrupted by God
Is Jesus Really the Answer to Everything?
Are You Beat Up?
What's Your Hurry?
Are You a Manipulator?
Are You Salty?
Are You Condemned?
Trying to Understand?
Do You Expect Answers to Your Prayers?
Do You Eat Your Stress?
Need Focus?
Going through Trouble?
Immanuel—God with Us
Looking for a Relationship?
When God Says, "No!"
What Do You Do with Left-Overs?
How Great Is Your God?
Are You Needy?
How Do You See Sin?
What Do Your Words Mean?
Is Evil Overwhelming You?
Those Aha Moments
Is Your Soul Happy?
Are You Ignored?
Looking for the God Moment
Do You Know Truth from Almost Truth?
I Believe in Jesus—What Now?
Do You Have Your "Son"-Glasses On?
Less Is More
Singing His Praise
Are You Trying To Do It All?
What Do You Do with All These Prayer Requests?
Have a Problem?
Do You Know How to Pray?
Looking for God in Every Moment
Are You Receptive to God's Blessings?
Tell the Senate: Mothers Aren't Birthing People
Is Your Life Complicated?
How Do We Fight Evil?
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
Giving Up or Taking Away
the Bible is simple
Are You a Dripping Faucet?
What's Your Testimony?
The Final Move
Be Careful What You Wish For!
Are Your Prayers Answered?
I Choose Joy
What Have You Learned from Your Hardship?
Who Are You Trying to Change?
What's Your Five-Year Plan?
The Danger of "Aloneness"
My Colors
Are You a Whiner?
Are Your Works Approved?
Do You Think You're Stressed?
Is Your Soul Feeling Ragged?
God Speaks to the Heart of the King
What about the Details?
Have You Felt the Long-Suffering of God?
How Does God Lead You?
Do You Have Enough?
Don't Carry More than You Need
Cast the Seed
God Is Faithful
Are You Deceived?
Are You Essential?
Are You Safe?
Are You Tired of the Same Old Thing?
Does the World Make Sense?
Have You Seen God's Majesty?
Do You Feel Judged?
If You Only Had One More Day To Live
Are You Understood?
Do You Long for the Word of God?
Slow Down and Smell the Dead Leaves
Are You Hospitable?
Our Heritage Is Bought by Blood
Are You Disturbed?
Are You Depressed?
I Did It My Way
Finding the Simple Life with Meaning
The Simple Life
Do You Have the Right Words?
Did Your Dream Die?
On the Other Side of the Fence
Marijuana, Mental Illness, and Violence
Confessions of a Desperate Mom
Saving for Tomorrow
A Wedding Remembered
Who Will Stand in the Gap?
Are You a Protector or a Ruler?
Who Are You?
Are You an Image Bearer or a Wad of Cells?
Are You a Watchman?
Where Do You Find Meaning?
The Lamb of God as Told by a Scribe
What Love Is This?
Remember: The Symbols of Passover Explained
Tea and Rest
Do You Have Peace?
What Makes a Marriage Work?
When Life Is Awful
Are You Strong Enough?
Rules
Seasons
Be Faithful through Suffering
Do You Know the Word?
Wake Up! Strengthen What Remains
Are You Spit in God's Mouth?
Is Jezebel in Your Midst?
Do You Stand Against Satan Himself?
Are You Tired of Being a Mom?
What in the World Is Happening?
It's Not My Story
How Would Your Faith Compare?
Are You Sinking?
Are You a Rule Follower?
Useful for Him
An Intimate Moment with Mary
The Worldview that Makes the
   Underclass
Thoughts to Ponder
What Does It Take To Know the
    Heart of God?
See the Story in the Stars
Do the Scriptures Burn You?
Being in His Presence
Contentment: It's Not for the Timid
How Secure Are You?
How Do You Respond To Stupid People?
The Earthworm Is My Hero
Heart Issues or Issues of the Heart
Things Aren't Always What They Seem
More faith articles are found here:

under the Table of Contents. Also available in book form.
Or here:

under the Table of Contents. Also available in book form.
Articles on Suffering can be found  here, 

under Table of Contents. Also available in book form.
Special Days
Remember: The Symbols of 
   Passover Explained    
Aug 12, 2017 The Heavens Declare the Glory of God
July 4th, Freedom
What Is an American Soldier?
Valentine's Day: A Day of Love?
Memorial Day-A Day To Remember
Veterans' Day-To Honor Our Men
Fall Colors
First Thanksgiving Day
    Proclamation
Christmas: Stories behind the Songs
Christmas: Stories behind the Songs, part 2