It may be easy to know what to do when one or two simple things don’t work out as planned. But when it’s something you’ve been praying for and seeking God’s guidance for a while, and it still doesn’t seem to be materializing, and then through a change of events, everything seems to be falling apart. What do you do?
#1. DON’T FALL APART!
I used to watch a TV show called The A-Team. The team leader often said, “I love it when a plan comes together.” I enjoyed that line! No matter what the opposition was or how impossible the situation or circumstances seemed, the team never “fell apart.” They always believed that they would come up with a successful rescue plan.
Regardless of how crazy or unconventional the plan was, it always worked! I never doubted that the outcome would be a guaranteed success. However, what excited me the most was watching the methods they used to achieve the outcome. It was always something I would have never thought of.
Scripted Refers to Something That Has Been Written or Prepared In Advance
Yes, I know this was a fictional TV show scripted by writers and producers. But our lives can also be somewhat likened to a TV show, except we are not fictional characters. God is the writer, and our script for life should come from our original manuscript, The Bible.
“Your eyes saw me before I was put together. And all the days of my life were written in Your book before any of them came to be.” (Ps. 139:16)
When I began writing this post, I was frustrated, disappointed, and angry. I believed I had done all the “right” things regarding a couple of situations; I had prayed, stood in my place of faith, praised, and made the proper confessions/promises. But suddenly, instead of things coming together and improving, everything seemed to fall apart. I thought, “What is happening?!”
It’s Not MY PLAN
After a few chaotic days, I eventually calmed down and realized that I had asked God for His best in these situations. His best refers to His plan, not mine.
Just like actors in a TV show rely on scriptwriters to advise them on how a scene should be played, we should also trust in God’s plan (the SCRIPTures) for the path to the end of our story. Entrust the “how” of our journey to the One who has already written it.
“I will teach (instruct) you and tell you the way to go and how to get there; I will give you good counsel (advice direction, support) and I will watch over you.” (Ps. 32:8)
#2. STAY ON COURSE
I’ve come to understand that, at times, God uses shaking and disruption as part of His process. Therefore, we shouldn’t get rattled when the plan looks different from our expectations or be impatient when waiting for the outcome. We need to stay the course and be patient, stay calm, and continue to pray and believe.
#3. TRUST GOD’S PLAN, HIS PROCESS
A plan is a detailed design of a program of action, while a process is a series of actions or steps taken to achieve a specific end.
I recently stumbled upon an intriguing centuries-old aphorism, sometimes attributed to St. Teresa of Avila, which states, “God writes straight with crooked lines.” This is interesting because when I look back on the many challenging situations in my life, I realize that none of the successful outcomes came about through the predictable steps of my plan.
God’s unexpected paths to us are necessary to bring things into His order. Although they may seem unsettling and unconventional, they are valuable in developing our trust in Him.
Proverbs 16:1 says, “We can make our plans, but the final outcome is in God’s hands.”
#4. BE PATIENT WITH GOD AND YOURSELF
Trust God and stop trying to figure everything out. It’s also important to practice patience and kindness towards ourselves when we feel inadequate and refrain from harsh self-judgment when we believe we haven’t accomplished enough.
“And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.” (Rom 8:28)
“Then after Abraham had been very patient, he was given what God had promised.” (Heb. 6:15)
I want to reassure you that God always sees us, sees our needs, provides for them and is always with us. We do not have to be seized with alarm, fearful or be terrified of anything. The Lord is on our side.
Thank you for traveling on my journey with me. May The Lord bless you and keep you safe.
Jacqui
