Loosely Made Plans

Scripture

"In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps." -Proverbs 16:9

When I was in my mid-to-late twenties, I had my entire life planned out. I was in graduate school, and I knew what I wanted to do after school and which government organization I would work with. I was very proud of the direction my life was taking until the unexpected happened. I discovered that I was going to be a mother. Everything shifted, and my carefully made plans all but vanished. I found myself in a career that I had never intended to enter. However, my plans in that season of my life had nothing to do with God's divine direction. 

See, there is a difference between human intention and divine authority. Even though I made careful preparations for my future, and as great as they were in my eyes, they weren't aligned with His plans for me. As I matured as a believer and in my relationship with Him, I began to understand that His redirection of my life was preparation to do the very thing I am doing right now: teaching in the kingdom. The Holy Spirit wants us to understand that it is right to make plans, but that God directs the outcome of our lives. Therefore, we should not hold on to our plans so tightly that when they change, we are bitter and broken. 

So, Beloved, this might mean that we may have to shift our mindset. As we make plans for our lives, we hold them loosely, knowing that God may redirect them. If He does, we should humbly follow where He leads, even if we're led into the unexpected. Let us be reminded that we serve a sovereign God, and His purpose will stand. Ultimately, it is He who establishes every step that we take. We must trust that when our plans are redirected, He is aligning us to His will. 

Prayer

Father, we lay our lives and our plans before you. You know what steps we should take. We submit to your will for our lives today. In Jesus' name. Amen