Plans for Good

What happens when God suddenly, and unexpectedly, shuts an important door for us? We none of us like sudden unwanted change that we have no control over. How should we respond? Sometimes we can feel very angry, blame others, get frustrated or depressed, or even shake our fist at God Himself. What was it like for Job? He had no warning that disaster was looming. God knew, so He could have warned Job, but this was to be a test from God.

This can happen to you and me too. How we come through depends very largely on our personal relationship with God. Do we really know God? Do we know and trust His character? Can we stand on His faithfulness to us personally, now? When our circumstances change (in our view for the worse), our calling under God does not, for ‘God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable’ (Romans 11:29).

We mustn’t stop doing what we know God’s called us to do. This time, last year, my husband went into hospital for a replacement knee, but sadly, and completely unexpectedly, died two days later. Everything changed for me, was now out of my control, and not to my liking. I had to ask three questions, “Is God still on the throne? Is He still in charge? and does He still love me?” My answer was, “absolutely, yes”. I believe everything that happens to us, as children of God, has to go through the hands of God first.

After confronting the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, circumstances suddenly changed for Elijah. He ran as fast as he could away from Jezebel, but, in doing so, he ran away from the calling of God on his life. God asked, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” These times in our lives require us to exercise faith in God. Faith sees the invisible, believes in the incredible, and experiences the impossible. We need to exercise inner strength that can only come supernaturally from God. God will always provide for us. He will always be with us and love us unconditionally. We can utterly trust Him. God know the plans He has for us (Jeremiah 29:11).

The pillar of cloud can start to move, and we must choose to go. We might prefer the old known way, because we’ve become too comfortable where we are. God has to pull the rug out from under us to get us to move. We mustn’t resist the change. It’s all in God’s sovereign plan for our lives. God is good, and this will all work out for our good too. We’re sometimes slow to recognise that there are seasons in our lives, and they have an ending. We would prefer the old season to continue, but God moves us on.

In Gethsemane, Jesus had to say, ‘Not my will but yours be done’. We’ll probably all have personal Gethsemanes. Can we follow Jesus’ example and trust God with the consequences?

We have to get to the place where we can say, “Lord, even when I don’t understand what you’re doing in my life, I acknowledge Your sovereignty, and I agree with You that You’re right, and that this will work out for my good”.

This is a new beginning, an unexpected new beginning. Don’t look back more than necessary. Move on, and embrace the change. God will complete the work that He’s begun in us (Philippians 1:6). No matter what happens, don’t give up, God has a plan for you. A breakthrough is coming, and the best is yet to be.

Prayer: Father, I come exactly as I am right now, and fully submit myself to You and Your plan for my life. Please increase my faith and trust in You. I choose again to make You Lord of my life. I know You’re in control and You have plans for me that I don’t know about. Help me to take one day at a time and to trust You each step of the way. In Jesus’ name, Amen.