Is God’s Plan Really Better?

In our lives, we develop so many different desires. Some are casual, like the desire for a beautiful pair of shoes or a new set of cookware. Others are more earnest, like the desire to be good parents or to be successful in our vocation. We find success sometimes. We don’t always get those shoes we want, and we don’t always rock that career we thought we were destined for. We feel let down by these disappointments, sure, but we’re generally able to move on. Then there are the specific ideas/plans/endeavors we feel we must pursue. It’s a desire, yes, but it’s also more. At times, we may find ourselves unsatisfied in those areas as well. It feels like no matter how much effort we put in, we can’t make it happen. This “failure” is probably a blazing sign telling us that it’s not part of the plan God has for our lives. But what is God’s plan for our lives, and will he really stop us from pursuing the things he didn’t include? In her book, Fear is Not the Boss of You, Jennifer Allwood says, “God will protect us from what is not ours and will give us what is.” That statement feels nice to me. It has a way of lifting the heaviness of responsibility in forcing my life to work the way I think it should. Plus, I love a powerful feel-good statement. I’m an emotional person, and statements like these tend to move me. That said, lately I’ve felt the need to make sure these motivational statements are supported Biblically. The truth is, as good as a literary pat on the back may feel, we must be resolute in our commitment to live as He instructs us to. We need to make sure these affirmations bring us closer to God and not closer to ourselves. Regarding Mrs. Allwood’s statements and the aforementioned book, I have confidence that her message is filled with the Spirit. For good measure, let’s still explore scripture that reinforces this notion.

We see, time and again in the Bible, how unparalleled God’s wisdom is. Paul writes to the Romans about it by saying: “O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgements and how inscrutable are his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” (Rom. 11:33-34). This confirms that His wisdom is beyond compare, but that doesn’t mean he’s got our lives figured out, right? It is easy to wonder, “Am I really that important? Is he really concerning himself with my little life? Surely, he has bigger fish to fry.” The answer is: Yes, you are that important. So am I, and so is my neighbor. So is the unplanned baby growing in her mama’s womb, and so is the homeless person roaming the streets. He has a divine plan for all of us. We see this in the book of Jeremiah. “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope” (29:11). Wow! That is such a powerful statement. God has a plan filled with welfare and hope for me. I don’t know about you, but for me, reading that feels like a warm hug. More evidence that I’m an emotional girl.

These are just two of countless verses that remind us that God has a plan, and his plan is far better than anything we could plan for ourselves. So, what do we do with this information? Here’s what I think we should do: We pray for discernment when we have a desire. Is this God-led or for personal interest? Sometimes the answer is both, and that’s the big winner! After discerning, we work towards the things God is leading us to do. I’m going to be really honest with you. I am a person full of doubt. I’ve never been the confident one in the room. I understand that I am led by emotions and that emotions often (usually) cannot be trusted. Even when I am truly sure that God is leading me toward a path, I will still question if it is all in my head. I will still think that I’m forcing this and that I never actually got the proverbial nod from God. As a matter of fact, this blog, this website, this community that I felt called to build almost didn’t happen. I had plenty of signs that God wanted this for me, but I still doubted. Does that sound familiar? I’ll tell you what I’ve tried to do to combat the doubts. I’ve started telling myself just to keep doing the thing. If it was meant to be (meaning God-led), then it will continue to flourish, and it will continue to bring you closer to God. If it is self-led, then, as Jennifer Allwood says, he will protect us from it. Conversely, we could choose to ignore his voice. We are warned against this in Hebrews, “See that you do not refuse the one who is speaking, for if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject the one who warns from heaven!” (12:25) If we turn our backs on God’s calling to us enough, our hearts will turn, and we will fall victim to the self-serving desires. We see this in Romans, “And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind and to things that should not be done.” (1:28) This doesn’t happen because we don’t understand God’s calling or are unsure of his desires for us. This happens when we do know what he’s asking of us and intentionally, continually turn away. So, my friends, will you join me and continue in faith? Trust that God will move you in the direction you should go, and you will find the success he has intended for you.

Recommend song: Your Way’s Better by Forrest Frank