Lately it has been brought to my attention how little I trust God. Proverbs 16: 9 states, “We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps” (NLT). I am very good at making plans it’s when the Lord orders my steps that I start to panic. Have you ever mapped out a plan? I mean a well detained 5 or 10 year plan. One where all the pieces seem to fit then God moves in your life. He turns your whole plan around to the point where you have to trust Him.
I am really good at making plans that require little of my faith and a lot of my effort. The hard thing is using little of my effort and a lot of my faith. When I hit these rough patches in my life I am often directed to the story of Joseph. Joseph knew he was destined for greatness, then out of nowhere he gets put in a pit, his integrity is attacked, he is thrown into prison and it seems all hope is lost. The bible doesn’t talk about Joseph making any plans for his life but we can tell from his story that he was one to be prepared. Here is the evidence about his character. First his father favored him and trusted him, he was then put over all Pilot owned, and even when he was put in prison he was placed in charge over prisoners. Joseph was a leader, and a dreamer and I am sure being put in a pit, sold into slavery, and thrown into prison was not his plan. God ordered his steps and he ended up right where God showed him he would be. Even more he was able to reconcile with his family who tossed him aside.
In life we get thrown curve balls, our plans fall through or completely change course. Instead of panicking we should be grateful holding on to the promise and call God has on our lives. He wants us to make plans, not so we can be disappointed but so our plans can look more and more like the plan He has for us. He wants us to get to the point where our trials and sacrifices are looked at as stepping stones and open doors.
James 1:2-4 states, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” The lesson for us in this is if we make our plans and God changes them, to trust Him wholly and completely. What we may see as trials and inconveniences in the changes of our plans are Gods way of shaping and molding us through our experiences to be more like Him.
Father,
Thank you for changing our plans. For opening doors and opportunities we otherwise may have missed. Though we feel we know best because we have lived the days of our lives, your word says you knew us even before conception. We trust your plan for our lives. Order our steps, open and close doors, and ultimately shape and mold us to be more like you. We love you.
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