Not in the Plans - Martin Wiles

But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high. Psalm 3:3 NLT

My position seemed secure—until….

The wedding date was only months away. My soon-to-be wife planned to stay at home. My salary was enough to get us by, and we planned to live within our means. Then the bottom fell out. The company I worked for had a large layoff, and I was among the ones affected.

After two months of looking for another job, my previous employer called me back with an offer: the lowest paying job in the plant. Sweeping the floor. Excitement about going back drained from me, but any job was better than none at all. I grabbed it.

A number of months later—when I had had my fill of sweeping—an opportunity appeared. The third shift lead person took a supervisor position on second shift, leaving open the third shift lead position. The superintendent—a friend and fellow church member—encouraged me to apply. I didn’t think I qualified for the position. He thought otherwise and told me to apply anyway. I did. He hired me. Suddenly, life was good again.

A lay off wasn’t in the plans—especially with a wedding so soon in the future—but God acted like a shield around my situation just as He did for the psalmist.

In my mind, the layoff was bad—until I received the promotion and a better job. Had the layoff never occurred, the higher-paying job might not have happened. God’s shield is not only in front of me but also behind me and on the sides of me. His shield surrounds me. This doesn’t mean my plans will always turn out the way I want … or the way I think God wants … but God will protect me from spiritual harm and from anything that prevents me from accomplishing His will.

God’s plans often don’t match mine, making prayer a necessity so I can discover what His plans are and align mine with them. Others’ plans for me may not align with God’s plans for me either, making God’s shield necessary so I am protected from their devilish designs.

Regardless of what comes our way, whether in our plans or not, we can hold our heads up, knowing God’s shield of love and divine protection surrounds us. Plans may fail, but God’s shield never will.

Live with confidence each day that God protects you with His shield of love.

Prayer: Father, thank You for surrounding us with Your shield of love, wisdom, and spiritual guidance.

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