A friend whose husband was out of work for almost two years described how it impacted their family. He now has a job that he loves, and money is again flowing in. We talked sometimes during his search, and she always seemed to be able to hang on to her trust in God and the process. I would have not been surprised to hear her rail against the economy, or complain about having to make ends that were far apart meet. 

"It was a good thing that he lost his job."  I yanked my head back. A good thing? "He had gotten complacent. He knew he should find a better job but he was too afraid of change. He wants to be a good provider and he couldn't face the uncertainty."

She was not being merely philosophical. She meant it. 

"You mean God never stopped taking care of you?"

She smiled. "Not for a minute."

As someone who grumbles at much smaller inconveniences than a lack of income, I was moved. 

I squeezed her hand. It is one thing to trust providence when the pantry is full and your purse has spending money. It is another to believe when the mortgage is floating somewhere above your head. 

When things are not going according to plan it is tempting to assume that this is a Mistake, and needs to be rectified as quickly as possible. But the thought occurs to me as I slip into my sixties that even that which is out of focus is, in fact, according to the Plan.