Wisdom Girls: God Has a Plan

By Joel Smith and Claire Smith

Ready for a cross-country adventure? In the second book of the Wisdom Girls series, Claire and her family will they leave everything behind to begin a new life in Kansas. Through their adventures on the trail, crossing the dangerous Mississippi River, and building deeper friendships, Claire learns that even during challenging times, Go

• Language: English
• Publisher: Smith Family Publishing
• Release date: Dec 6, 2021
• ISBN: 9780578333199

Book preview

One

The Last Sunday School Lesson

Drawing of Mrs. White, wearing pink and purple

’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord. ‘Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future,’ Jeremiah 29:11, Mrs. White said reading from her chalk board.

This was the last Sunday school class that Claire would have with her favorite teacher. She was beyond sad about moving, but wanted to hear everything her teacher had to tell her in these last moments. She could hear the adults starting to sing their closing song in the sanctuary next door. Claire had grown to love their little classroom which doubled as the school building during the week.

Claire had always imagined sitting in this classroom and finally becoming one of the older students who got to help teach Mrs. White’s lessons to the younger kids. She had practiced playing teacher with her dolls at home, and sometimes, when Zach was in a really good mood, he would play along with her as the student. It created a knot in her stomach to think that she would never be back in this classroom.

She loved the way Mrs. White taught her how to be smart during the week and then taught her how to be wise on the weekends. At least that is the way her teacher always described it. Claire mouthed the words of the phrase Mrs. White would repeat to the class on a regular basis,

Reading, writing, and arithmetic are good for smarts, but it is knowing God that is best for your hearts.

And now, as her family prepared to move out west with a few other families, she was learning from her teacher one last time. She glanced over at Emma and was so thankful her family decided to come as well. Her dad, Mr. Johnson, made his living as a fisherman on Lake Michigan. Although he did well, he was often gone for long periods of time. Claire knew how much Emma missed him while he was gone. By moving with the other families and taking advantage of the Homestead Act, he would be able to be at home rather than away fishing.

Emma’s family also hoped that a new farm would provide an opportunity for her brother to come back to whenever the war ended. He had run off a year earlier to join the Northern Army. The letters from him were few and far between, but they at least brought hope that he was still okay.

Claire focused back on what Mrs. White was teaching. It seemed like she had made her lesson specifically for all the kids who would be moving. Claire, Emma, Isaac, and their siblings would soon embark on a new adventure.

Mrs. White continued, Does anyone know what I mean when I say the words, ‘comfort zone'?

Mrs. White looked around as Claire slowly raised her hand. She waited a few more seconds before calling on Claire. Claire smiled to herself remembering all the times that she would patiently wait with her hand in the air while Mrs. White gave someone else a chance to answer the question.

Yes, Claire, she finally said giving her permission to answer.

I think our comfort zones are the areas of our lives where we have everything the way we like it. Kind of like a warm bed on a cold morning, Claire answered.

You are correct! Mrs. White affirmed her. She paused and looked around at the class and Claire knew there was more to the question. Now do you think having a comfort zone is good or bad? Mrs. White asked.

Once again, she looked around the class as the kids all murmured an answer. Some were saying that comfort zones were good, some were saying that they were bad, and some students did not answer at all. Mrs. White smiled as she said,

What if I told you that you are all correct? It can be both a good thing and a bad thing. And there can also be times when you don’t know if your comfort zone is good or bad. God gives us all kinds of good things in life, but He also wants us to grow. He knows that if we always have everything exactly the way we want it, then we can be too comfortable and never have to grow as boys and girls.

In the book of Jeremiah, God says that He does have a plan for His people, and it is a good plan full of hope. The Israelites had been so disobedient to God and comfortable with their lives apart from God that He had to shake them out of their comfort zone to get them back on track with His good plans for them." She then paused and looked around the class to make sure everyone was listening before she continued.

"All of you kids who are moving away are going to be leaving friends behind, your homes behind, and everything else that you know behind. I’m sure it is very scary for you, but as you travel out to Kansas, I want you to remember this lesson. Just because you are uncomfortable or scared, does not mean