Thursday, October 24, 2019

When Plans Go Awry - Martin Wiles


You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail. Proverbs 19:21 NLT

I had a purpose … or so I thought.

At twelve, I perceived God’s purpose for me was to be a Bible teacher—but I made no plans. The temptations of adolescence soon grasped me in their clutches, and I put God’s purpose in the background.

When in my early twenties, I once again felt God’s pricking—this time to be a preacher in addition to a Bible teacher. The difference between this time and the one before was that I made plans. I knew I had to attend college.

During my college journey, God impressed upon me His purpose to teach the Bible at a college, in addition to preaching. I knew this would mean further education. Another college nearby had an arrangement with my college concerning a master’s degree. All credits I had earned would transfer.

Everything seemed in place. Until the bottom fell out. My wife lost her job and couldn’t find another one. I couldn’t work and attend college too. Before I knew it, we were moving back to South Carolina, I had only a bachelor’s degree, and I didn’t have a master’s in education. At least, I could preach. The teaching … well … I didn’t know what happened to those plans.

King Solomon had wisdom … and he planned. He also had enough sense to know God’s purpose would win out in the end—regardless of any plans he had made.
Why what I comprehended as God’s plan didn’t work out the way I felt Him leading, I can’t answer. In literature, we call such an occurrence a plot twist. The story moves in one direction, and we think we have it figured out, but suddenly things turn out in a way we didn’t expect. Life happens the same sometimes. Mine did.

But this much I know. God has a plan for each of His children. He also expects us to plan according to our perception of His plan. Essential in the mix is prayer—before, during, and after planning. In the end, however, God determines how things work out. Our job requires learning contentment regardless of how God plans the plot outcome. He will work all things together for our good and His glory.

Whether your life turns out as you planned, be content, knowing God is in control and has good things in store for you.

Prayer: Father, our lives are in Your hands. Do with them as You wish.




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4 comments:

  1. God sure guides us, not always where we want to go, but where we need to be. Thanks for joining the Thankful Thursday Blog Hop!

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  2. God knows the way even when we may not but it takes listening to find out

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  3. Our Female Human says that God doesn't always give us what we want but He always gives us what we need. Now we just have to convince God we need more tuna.
    Purrs & Head Bonks,
    Oliver

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  4. Pause in your busy life and listen.

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