When God has another Plan
I have been thinking lately about God’s plan for our lives as I read Spiritual Leadership, by Henry Blackaby. It is an insightful book on how to lead, how to plan, how to relate to others, and how to relate to God. The subtitle is, Moving People Onto God’s Agenda. Wow, that sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? Two things occur to me when I read that title. First, we need to find out what is God’s agenda. Second, we need to move there.
We are often stymied by the first necessity. Sometimes we don’t know what God’s agenda is – for our lives, for our career, for our future, for our family. We have plans and goals, but have they been tested in the fire of prayer? Are we truly willing to submit those plans and goals to God’s gaze and change them as needed, modify them, or scrap them altogether?
Our oldest son joined the Navy, planning to serve at least four years. His plans didn’t work out and he ended up serving only six months. Our middle son graduated Eastern University with a degree in communications studies, and he’s currently working for a lawn care company. And our youngest son had plans to go to Yale when he was in middle school – he now attends the college where I teach, Hudson County Community College. They each had a plan, an agenda. But God has other plans for their lives. They are in the process of figuring out what is God’s agenda for their lives.
My husband Bill and I left the church where he served as pastor for 15 years in 2003. Bill did not plan to pastor another church. Working full-time for Prison Fellowship was fulfilling, he enjoyed the ministry, and he was using his gifts. God had another plan. When he was called to serve as the pastor at a multi-cultural church in Jersey City, we answered the call. Moving from New York City, where Bill was born and raised, across the Hudson River to New Jersey, was not a lengthy trip, but it was a sea-change for Bill. I had hoped to have a publisher for my historical novel by this time… but my agent is still shopping the manuscript. We have plans, but often God has another plan, and it’s always a better plan.
God had a plan for Sarai’s life – He told her she would give birth in her old ag
e and be the mother of countless generations. Sarai at first didn’t believe God, then adopted His agenda as her own. The only problem was, she adopted God’s plan but didn’t wait for God’s timing. Sarai reasoned,
” ‘See now, the Lord has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.’ And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai.” Genesis 16:2
But here’s the thing. We can’t follow our own agenda to complete God’s plans in our lives. We need to follow His agenda.
Sometimes it is hard to adapt to God’s plans. We do have dreams and hopes, but sometimes they don’t align with His plans for us. Thank you for your encouragement.
I am always in prayer asking god to guide and direct me. I was working constantly and I got the chance to open my own business. I prayed and asked god if this was his will. I got a word I felt him say leave what you have. I have so much more and decided this was ment to be. I left my job in complete faith.
I pray every day as I feel I may have took too much on. I know it’s not gods plan that I’m stressed and trying to make this business build up so I’m now praying it was ment to be and not if my own will. I never want to walk out gods plan for my life.
I have so much faith then doubt rears it’s ugly head.
I have been so blessed so far and with prayer and petition I pray that this will succeed in Jesus name ??
What a wonderful reminder and encouragement! Thank you. I tend to struggle the most with trying to figure out what His plans are for me, even when I so desperately want to obey them and do His will. I guess it’s a process and that we just have to keep praying and seeking until we do hear from Him! How wonderful that you and your husband picked up everything and moved and obeyed when you did hear from God. That wouldn’t be easy to do, but like you said God does always have a better plan! Thank you again for the timely encouragement!
God bless you and yours! 🙂
Thanks Amber. God’s plan is always best, and as we walk with Him day by day, we come to better understand what His plan for us is. It’s a lifelong process.