Countless people have, at one time or another, found themselves saying, “I never thought I would be living here or in this career path, but here I am.” As Christians, we know that His plan for us is probably not the exact plan we had for ourselves.
Accepting His Authority
“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.” Proverbs 16:9
The important word in this passage is “but.” This word is powerful because it’s God authority, supremacy and grace stepping into our lives. We can plan everything from our wedding date to when we’ll have our first child, but God literally establishes every step, which means He has the ultimate stamp of approval on all we do. He graciously sets the flag in the ground and, knowing God, it will most likely be somewhere unexpected. God works for the good of those who love Him.
A Plan For You And For Others
We also need to understand that God’s plan for our lives is just as much for us as it is for others. After all, God did not die for Himself; He died for all of humanity that we might know Him and enter a personal relationship with Him. God’s purpose and plan for your life is not something He just thought about only for you. He has planned it in such a way as to bless others, and in so doing, you are also blessed.
Listening To His Call
God desires us to live out the life He’s planned for us, but so many people miss out on it. Look at the Israelites who disobeyed God and found themselves wandering in the wilderness for 40 years, unable to ever attain the land promised to them, the land flowing with milk and honey. We need to be obedient to His call in our lives, lest we begin to wander in our own unfulfilling wilderness.
If you have a certain passion or talent, odds are He wants you to use them for His glory and purpose. Simply praying “Thy will be done” is an act of surrender to God. We need to come to the understanding that not every noble pursuit is actually something God has called us to do. That’s where obedience really counts. Will we be obedient to His call, or will we wander for 40 years?
To understand that God’s plan for our lives is probably not what we have chosen is to realize that He is always thinking larger than we are. He’s thinking about the blessings and fruit that will come from our lives, while we often think about job security or our income. God is more concerned with your life than you can possibly imagine; He wants you to truly entrust your life into his good, perfect and pleasing will.
“The LORD will work out his plans for my life–for your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for you made me.” Psalm 138:8
