How can I be content when life doesn't turn out at all the way I've hoped and prayed?  

One of my most difficult seasons of wrestling with God came through two hope-filled prayer requests that I knew would be quite easy for Him to answer and would fit together just perfectly for our family. 

The chapter I would have been very content to write for myself if God had handed me the pen would have been Healed from Headaches and Adoption Completed in 2008. 

But instead, God allowed my migraines to continue as an undesired thorn in my flesh. His words of promise to me were not for physical healing but for His ongoing work in my life through a different path: “I have more to teach you about weakness.” 

And it would be five additional long years before our two adopted sons joined our family. Our oldest son ended up returning to the US from China on his own to start college as the rest of our family continued to wait in Gansu province. God's promise was not to work according to our timetable, but to help us hold on to hope: “My timing is perfect. Trust me.” 

God didn't hand me the pen to write the chapter I wanted because my version of the story was not the best one. And even though I still don't understand all of the why's, one day I believe He will enable me to. When that day comes, I will thank Him for the pain and brokenness He used to create a beautiful story of His design. Until the day when all confusion will be brought to light, He is enabling me–little by little–to find contentment in the midst of disappointment. 

I'm inspired by Habakkuk, who wrestled deeply with God and arrived at a place of praise that wasn’t dependent on his circumstances... 

Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; 
even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! Habakkuk 3:17–18