Isaiah 14:27 (NLT)
27 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has spoken— who can change his plans?
When his hand is raised, who can stop him?”
Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
you ever become frustrated, because things didn’t go quite the way you wanted them to? Well, I certainly have. There have been several times that I have made plans, only to find out that God’s will for my life was something totally different.
Over the years as I have matured spiritually, I have realized that God’s ways without fail, turn out to be what is best for me. Although frustrating and sometimes downright painful, if we just trust and wait His reasons become clearer to us. There are other times, however, that we may never know His reasons, but we can rest in the fact that it is what is best for us. We must remember that everything points back to Him and His purpose for our lives.
A few years before I met my husband, I was dating a young man that I was head over heels in love with. After several months of dating, he proposed and I started the process of planning a wedding. A few months into the process he came to me and told me that he was just not ready to settle down yet, and he thought that we should call the wedding off. My heart was shattered into a thousand pieces. I cannot describe the pain that I felt during that time. It was as though my heart literally ached with pain. I have heard over the years that people can die of a broken heart, and I certainly can understand how it can happen after my experience. Although my head knew that under the circumstances this was the best decision for us, my heart was still not ready for it and the pain was almost unbearable.
The thing that made this even more difficult, was that we worked for the same company and I had to see him every day. Boy did I learn a valuable lesson through this process? Never ever date someone that you work with. Even though we worked in different departments we would still run into each other throughout our day at some point.
I questioned God during that time. I couldn’t believe that I could go from the happiest I had ever been in my life to experience the most gut-wrenching pain ever. I couldn’t understand why God would allow my heart to be so broken when I was so happy.
It wasn’t long before I could look back and see how God protected me by allowing this to happen. A few months after our breakup I found out that the guy that I was so in love with, had a wandering eye while we were engaged. The chances of him being faithful during our marriage would have been slim to not at all. God knew something about his character that had not been revealed to me yet.
Ladies I know firsthand when God says wait or even No, it is in our best interest and our protection. When there is a detour sign that pops up on your plans, just say yes Lord. Allow God to take the wheel, so that your journey turns out to be a safe one. Praise God, which He can always see so much farther down the road than we can. Trust God to take care of you and all that concerns you, even when you don’t understand, just trust.
I took the time needed for God to heal me after our breakup. I was absolutely in no hurry to date anyone again or to start a new relationship. I became really involved in Church work and my Bible became my favorite book to read. I would sit and read scriptures, verse after verse, and I received so much comfort from that. The closer I got to God the more emotionally well I became. I also became very content, and I had such inner peace and clarity. My confidence started to come back as well. I am thankful that this process made me better and not bitter.
God still had another plan, however. Two years later I was introduced to the man who would become my husband. I am so glad that God protected me from what would have been a disaster. He had the man that was perfect for me, waiting in the wings. Notice I did not say a perfect man, I said the man that was perfect for me. This coming November if God says the same we will celebrate our 25th Wedding Anniversary.
God knew exactly what and who I needed. I am thankful that He knew better than I did what was best for me. He gave me better than I was giving myself, but He always does, doesn’t He? Thank you, Jesus, for your sovereign will be being done in my life.
Ladies I want to encourage you today to just trust the Master’s plan, it is always what is best for us. The great news is that when you are living God’s best for your life, you will experience joy and peace and contentment.
The lesson in all of this is, don’t lean on your own understanding. Be OK with releasing your plan for His sovereign will. I am not saying don’t plan, but I am saying that if God shows you that you need to relinquish your plan or idea, for His greater plan be willing to do so. Things will only get better when you do. Have a happy day walking on the path that God places before you, knowing and trusting that He really does know what is best!
