My dad sends me pictures of sunflowers whenever he sees them in the grocery store. It was probably well over a year of pictures before he ever told me why.

Sometimes we get goals in our minds; or we set out on a new adventure. In the beginning, we have our eyes on the goal. But then over time, disappointment sets in, or we’ve missed the mark too many times, maybe it’s that time seems to be running out.

What about the times our goals seem too far fetched in other people’s opinions? Maybe your friends or family are knocking you down or telling you to settle for less than what you set out for. It’s almost too easy to find the voices supporting your failure or to settle for less.

But with God in the picture, we don’t need to doubt His presence. What we have set out to do through Him, will be brought to completion (Phil. 1:6). Just because someone else doesn’t believe in you, doesn’t mean that you’ve set goals too high or have standards beyond reality. Submit your goals to God’s plan and walk in faith knowing that what you have set out to do, God will never forsake you.

So, why does my dad continue to send me pictures of flowers? Because he knows that it would make me smile. That no matter how rotten my day was or if I was worried that I’d studied enough that day, that I know my dad thought of me and wanted to make me smile. And it’s that kind of reminder that gives me hope. Not just that I will find someone that would do that for me, but that people exist that want to spread smiles and joy to people’s hearts.

Don’t settle. Not your goals, not your hopes, not your relationships. Remember that God has the plan. Submit to Him, know your worth, and find hope again.

“Then the Lord replied: ‘Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.” -Habakkuk 2:2-3

“Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” -Philippians 3:13-14

“Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.” -Psalms 37:4