September 17, 2024
I will be the first to admit that I am a planner. I like to mentally plan and map out my days and weeks and things that I have to accomplish. Of course, when things don't go the way I have planned it can cause me some anxiousness and a little worry. OK, maybe more than a little.
I have to remind myself that I am not the person in control. God is. How many times have unplanned things happened and they take us by surprise? I heard my granddaughter being concerned about the weather this weekend as it had changed to a chance of rain, and she has a pool party to attend. The plan is a pool party, but the weather can cause the plans to change.
If you look up the definition of unplanned it says not expected or intended. In the last few months, there have been plenty of things in our lives that were unplanned. Wayne received an unplanned denial from disability. We had an unplanned leak in our ceiling from our air conditioner that caused damage. I received a notice of an unplanned rent increase at the disabled adult community where our daughter lives. Wayne received news that he will need two unplanned surgeries in the near future. I realize in the scheme of things that are happening in our world these are very minor items, but they were not expected or on my planned list.
The definition of planned is arranged, organized design done in advance. The only One who has an advance, arranged design of our lives is God. Grasping that truth and living by it will change your perspective. Knowing God has the plan provides security in our day-to-day lives.
We can plan out every aspect of our lives, but it is God who holds the master plan. In Proverbs 16:9 the Bible says "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps." God holds the master plan even when unplanned items happen in our lives. In Proverbs 19:21 the Bible says "Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand."
I can mentally arrange what I think are the most efficient and effective plans. The truth is that efficient and effective plans that omit God are not effective. God's plans will always be greater than anything I could design. One of my favorite verses in the Bible is a promise in Jeremiah 29:11 "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." These are uncertain times with unplanned things happening all around us.
I am sure all of us are dealing with something that wasn't in our life plan. The truth is life is not built following a map of our plans. Life is built following our instruction book, the Bible, and leaning on God's promises. The only thing I know to do to keep me from completely losing hope is to trust in God's plan.
We may not ever make sense of things that happen or even understand the why behind them. We just have to trust in the promise that God has a plan. He gives us hope for each moment we live. God is still good when life seems uncertain. God is still in control when life seems to be full of unplanned items. God holds the master plan.
I don't know about you, but this gives me the ability to keep going when life is hard. It also makes me realize that every moment is important. God has a plan, and we need to seek Him and trust Him to guide us to make the most of each moment we live. I heard a song with the lyrics, "Lord keep me in the moment, help me live with my eyes wide open because I don't want to miss what you have for me." There is nothing wasted when we place everything in God's hands.
Are you facing something unplanned in your life? Is life hard? Go to God. Place every moment, good and bad, into the hands of God. We don't have to understand the path we are on or the problems we face. Just trust the God who has the master plan and purpose. Allow Him to be your guide through every moment.
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Jill Johnson, a staff member at the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, finds spiritual applications in her everyday experiences as a wife, mother, grandmother and Georgian. She is available to speak to your church's women's gatherings. Reach her at jjohnson@gabaptist.org.
