Tag Archives: God’s plan

June 23, 2025 · 5:41 AM

Don’t Jump The Gun

When my son was younger, he would always try to walk in front of us when we were at the mall or a store. He would try to anticipate where we were going without fully knowing where. Sometimes he would think he knew where we were headed and go straight to it, while other times he would look back constantly to make sure he was right. I find myself doing this with God all the time. I try to anticipate where He’s leading me or what He wants me to do. I think I know how He’s going to do something or what He’s planning, but I find myself constantly looking back for approval. In those cases, I’m trying to lead God rather than to be led by Him.

Noah was a man who didn’t seem to have that problem. When God looked at mankind during his generation, He saw only Noah was doing what was right in His sight. He gave him the plans for the Ark, and Noah got to work. Genesis 6:22 says, “So Noah completed all these preparations and did everything exactly as God had commanded him” (TPT). He didn’t try to get ahead of God. Instead he waited until God told him to get in the Ark. He even waited for God to tell him to exit the Ark after it had come to rest on the mountain. All throughout this story, we see a man who didn’t jump ahead of God, but rather waited on God.

Psalm 27:14 says, “Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord” (NLT). Waiting patiently can be difficult. When we know God has a plan, the best thing we can do is to wait for His timing. It takes bravery and courage to stand still while you wait for God to show up, especially when it feels like you’re getting left behind. God doesn’t operate on our timetable, nor does He do things the way we think He is. I’ve found it causes more issues to jump the gun than to simply wait. I’m still tempted to try to go ahead of God, but I know His way and timing are better than my own. He sees the whole plan and knows exactly where He’s leading. Be patient.

Photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels.

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August 5, 2024 · 5:34 AM

Becoming Resilient

Resilience is a person’s ability to withstand difficulties or to be able to bounce back from them. We all have different levels of resilience. In 1956, Jim Elliot had been a missionary to Ecuador for three years. He had been wanting to reach a tribe who was known for their hostility towards outsiders. He felt in his heart that God had called him to reach this tribe so he and some others flew over to meet them. When he didn’t radio back that evening, his wife Elisabeth had another friend fly over the area. Her worst fear was confirmed. The men were killed. However, Elisabeth didn’t return home. She stayed and continued to try to reach this tribe. Within two years the whole tribe accepted Jesus and Jim’s family was living in the village.

In Genesis 39: we’re introduced to Joseph. He was Jacob’s favorite son out of twelve. He had a couple dreams where his brothers and his parents bowed down to him. It wasn’t long after that his brothers beat him up, threw him in a cistern and sold him as a slave. He worked in an Egyptian’s house until he was falsely accused and thrown in prison. After years of being down there, two men who served Pharaoh joined him. They had dreams as well. He interpreted them and they came true, but he was soon forgotten. In over a decade of being in slavery and prison, we don’t hear Joseph complain. Instead, we see his resilience knowing his dream was from God. It wasn’t long after that when he interpreted Pharaoh’s dream and saved his family while seeing his dream come to pass.

Psalm 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble” (NLT). It goes on to say that we don’t have to fear calamities, earthquakes, floods and other disasters. We can be resilient through terrible times knowing that God is in control. To be resilient is to surrender what control you think you have to him. Ultimately His way will prevail. Elisabeth and Joseph trusted God’s voice and plan when their expectations of it didn’t happen. Their resilience helped them to stay the course, believe in their dream and trust God no matter what their circumstances showed. He was their refuge and strength when they needed Him in times of trouble. Because they surrendered their expectations of what things should look like, they were rewarded with the fulfillment of the dreams God placed in them. What do you need to surrender to God so you can find refuge and withstand things not appearing to go your way?

Photo by Joshua Sortino on Unsplash

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April 15, 2024 · 5:39 AM

The Best Route

Sometimes when I use the map app to find my way somewhere it will ask me if i want the fastest route there or the most fuel efficient route. Most of the time I want the fastest route to where I’m going. When I’m on vacation, I’ve been known to take the scenic route in order to see things the fastest route misses. When driving through several states, I took a route that sent us through as many state capitals as possible so my son could check them off his list. Some days though, my schedule sends me on what I call the star route. I go from one side of town to an appointment, then across town to pick up something from the warehouse. Then I have to cross town again to drop it off at a job site. I then drive another way across town to pick up my son from school and back home. All that zigzagging looks like a star on the map. I’ve found that different routes yield different results.

Moses’ life had some strange routes to it. The very first route had him going down the Nile in a basket. He landed at the Pharaoh’s daughter’s house. He grew up privileged and educated. His route took a left turn into the desert suddenly where he was an humble shepherd. God parked him there for forty years before his route took him to Sinai where he encountered the burning bush. That led him back to Egypt to free the Israelites. His route had him confront Pharaoh, which was hard. The route then led he and all of Israel to a dead end at the Red Sea where they were trapped until God showed up. They traveled through the sea to Sinai again and back into the desert for forty years before coming to the edge of the Promised Land. At each place along his route, God was in control and giving him what he needed for the future God had for him. In the moment, I’m sure he often felt lost and would’ve taken a different route had he been in charge.

Proverbs 20:24 says, ”It is the Lord who directs your life, for each step you take is ordained by God to bring you closer to your destiny. So much of your life, then, remains a mystery!“ (TPT) Are you wondering what route you’re on right now and why is God taking this one? Me too, but I know He is in control. He doesn’t always take the fastest route or the easiest route. He takes the route that prepares you for your destiny. He takes the route that you didn’t know was there. Sometimes it’s painful and dark. Other times the route may feel like a dead end. I’ve found that God will use whatever route is necessary to get you where He’s taking you while equipping you along the way. Your route is ordered of the Lord, especially when it’s a mystery. Hang on and let Him keep driving. He has plans for your life and they’re good plans to prosper you. Trust in Him as He leads and directs your life. That is the best route.

Photo by Javier Allegue Barros on Unsplash

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October 26, 2023 · 5:30 AM

The Best Path

When I was younger and I wanted to take a trip, I would break out my Rand McNally map and plot a course. I would take the map with me so I could follow along or use it if I got lost. Today, most of us use an app with GPS to get us where we’re going. We plug in an address and off we go blindly following wherever it leads. There have been times when I questioned where it was taking me and I thought I knew better. I was wrong. Even now, I question it, but I’ve learned to give it the benefit of the doubt because it sees what’s coming ahead and knows what path to take.

After David was anointed king, I’m sure he thought he knew the path God was going to take to get him to the palace. It wasn’t that long until the king called and invited him to the palace without knowing David would be the next king. Then the path took an unexpected turn. David was on the run and had to leave the country God said he would rule over. He found himself living in caves instead of in the luxury of palaces. He didn’t question God’s path to get him there even though it was a different path than he would have chosen.

From the cave, he penned this in Psalms 142:3, “When my spirit was overwhelmed and weak within me [wrapped in darkness], You knew my path” (AMP). No matter how dark that cave was, he trusted that God knew his path. That’s something we can all learn from. Sometimes God’s path will lead you through some dark times, but even though you walk through the valley of the shadow, God will be with you. He uses those times to develop us, to prove His faithfulness and to have us bring light into the darkness. Don’t turn from the path God is leading you down. He knows what’s ahead and is taking you on the best path for your future.

Photo by Johannes Plenio on Unsplash

Throwback Thursday is a feature I’m using to help build some margin into my schedule to pursue other ventures. Each Thursday I’ll be bringing you a previously written devotional that still speaks encouragement to us from God’s Word.

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December 7, 2021 · 5:49 AM

Being Rerouted

Have you ever been trying to do something or go somewhere, but it seemed you were blocked at every turn? Maybe you hit every red light or traffic seemed to be stopped no matter which way you tried to go. Im the type that it makes me try harder to get where I’m going. I start thinking if I should run a red light in order to break the cycle of reds. Or I look for crazier ways to get where I’m going rather than the traditional ones. I become a man on a mission. What if it wasn’t the universe conspiring against you? What if it was God trying to prevent you for your own good?

In Numbers 22:21-39, Balaam decided to go with the king’s men when they wouldn’t take no for an answer. The Bible says that God put an angel in the road to oppose him. The donkey saw the angel and turned off into a field. Balaam beat his donkey and forced it back on the road. Then the angel stood in a narrow pathway. The donkey pressed up against the wall and crushed Balaam’s foot. He then began to beat the donkey with his staff. That’s when the donkey spoke up and asked what he had done to get beaten so badly. Balsam told the donkey he wanted to kill him. That’s when God opened his eyes to see the angel.

In A te 16:6-10 Paul was prevented several times from going where he thought God was leading him. Instead of trying to keep going, he tried somewhere else. Finally he had a vision of a man from Macedonia asking for him to go there. Verse 10 says, “So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once, having concluded that God was calling us to preach the Good News there” (NLT). Roadblocks may actually be God trying to reroute you. Instead of getting angry or more stubborn, try asking God if there’s somewhere else you’re supposed to go. He’s got a plan for you and will do what it takes to get you there. Listening to His voice and following His lead is much easier than fighting against Him.

Photo by Robert Linder on Unsplash

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September 9, 2021 · 5:59 AM

The Right Route

Whenever I’m on the road and need directions, I usually use Waze to help me get there. It finds the quickest route and gets me there at the promised time. To do that, it often takes detours through neighborhoods or back streets I’ve never been on. I’m at the mercy of this app, and have to trust that it knows what it’s doing. Sometimes it takes me through places where I wonder if I’m safe.

There are times when it tells me to exit or turn, and I think, “That’s odd. My exit is just ahead.” Early on, I just thought it was a glitch and kept driving. After trying to correct me a few times, it finally gave up and added a lot of time to my arrival time. It saw what I couldn’t up ahead and tried to help me avoid it. When I didn’t listen, I got stuck in the traffic it was trying to help me avoid. I’ve learned to trust that it knows best and can see what I can’t.

God is a lot like Waze in our lives. He knows our destination and the route He wants us to take. He plans out each detour to help us avoid hurts or pains, but often we think we know best and drive right past what He’s telling us to do. We can’t see what He sees up ahead in our lives. It takes trust to follow His instructions when we don’t understand. He even takes us on detours through places we didn’t know existed, but it’s all for our benefit.

Psalm 1 is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible. It gives great promises to those who listen to God’s instructions rather than man’s. One of those promises says that God charts the road you take (verse 6 MSG). God has charted out a road for each of us. It’s up to us to listen to His Word, meditate on it and follow it. He knows best how to get us where He wants us. It’s up to us to follow the path He’s charted out.

Photo by Denys Nevozhai on Unsplash

Throwback Thursday is a feature I’m using to help build some margin into my schedule to pursue other ventures. Each Thursday I’ll be bringing you a previously written devotional that still speaks encouragement to us from God’s Word.

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June 10, 2019 · 5:00 AM

The Way Of Suffering

This weekend I had the opportunity to visit the room where the Last Supper took place, walk through the Garden of Gethsemane, visit Caiaphas’ house and then walk down the Via Dolorosa. To walk in the final footsteps of Jesus before His crucifixion can be a moving experience if you can block out all the chaos around you. As I went to each place, I tried to imagine the emotions of Jesus in each place and to feel the tension He must have felt knowing He was leaving the Passover meal a free man to cross the Kidron Valley, but would return a prisoner. It’s a very sobering journey.

As I entered the Church of All Nations at the foot of the Mount of Olives where the Garden of Gethsemane is, I walked around the outskirts of the sanctuary instead of down the middle. The purple glass in the shape of a cross makes sure that the room is lit, but remains dim. I went to the front where there is a rock protruding out of the foundation of the church. I stood outside the barrier as I watched people lay on it and weep. On the barrier were pieces of paper in different languages. I walked around until i found one in English. It had a portion of the Gospel of Luke that ended in Luke 22:46. It said, “Jesus went to the disciples who were sleeping and said, ‘Why are you asleep? Wake up and pray that you won’t be tested.’”

Are you and I like the disciples? Are we awakened to the things God is asking us to do or are we asleep? Do we realize that the moment God has us in right now is in preparation for greater things? God’s plan for you is always good. It may involve some suffering and times of emotional stress. There are times we will walk in darkness so we can share God’s light. The only way to achieve God’s desired outcome in our lives is to pray like Jesus prayed in the darkest time of His life. Luke 22:44 says, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup [of divine wrath] from Me; yet not My will, but [always] Yours be done” (AMP). Submitting to God’s will, even in suffering and pain always yields the greatest outcome.

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February 25, 2019 · 6:00 AM

Your Journey

I remember as a senior in high school, my English teacher had us write a research paper on our chosen field of profession. We had to interview at least two people in that profession, discuss the educational requirements and career path. Even though I wrote it all out, I still found myself lost after high school. I felt like it was just going to happen without my putting in the work. I wanted to accomplish God’s plan for my life and to walk in His path for me, but I wasn’t moving in any direction. I found that it’s hard to follow a path and get direction if you’re standing still.

After David was anointed king, he didn’t get to go to the palace. He went back to the hills to watch the sheep. He took his brothers food while they were at war. He played the harp for the current king. Even though God didn’t take him to the palace right away, he continued moving and doing things that prepared him to be king. He understood that God had a plan, and for that plan to be executed, he couldn’t just sit around and wait for it to just happen. As he did things, God put him in situations that grew him and showed his strengths as a leader.

If you feel like you’re wandering or if you’re just waiting for God to move and place you in position, pray what David prayed in Psalm 25:4. He wrote, “Lord, direct me throughout my journey so I can experience your plans for my life. Reveal the life-paths that are pleasing to you” (TPT). God will direct you, but you have to be moving. I believe God has created you with a specific plan in mind, but it won’t just happen. You need to invest time, energy and money into the areas He’s directed you to, and you need to be ready to face any giant in your way. God’s not finished with your journey yet, nor has He given up on you. Start today down His path and He will direct you.

Photo by Michelle Spencer on Unsplash

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April 2, 2018 · 5:46 AM

God’s Timing

Earlier this year, my son got a 3-D puzzle of Big Ben, the famous clock at Westminster Palace. This particular puzzle has a working clock on one side. After we built the clock, he asked if we could set the clock to London time. I then moved the hour hand six hours ahead. He said, “Wow! London is six hours faster than us?” Now, whenever he goes by the clock, he announces what time it is in London so we’ll know the difference in their time and ours.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in life, it’s that God has a different time than I do. It’s not as simple as a six hour difference though. He doesn’t look at time by the hour like we do. He looks at circumstances and how they line up to tell time. Whenever I pray for something, I’m typically looking at my circumstances and ask God to intervene in that moment. God’s timing doesn’t just look at what I want in that moment, he looks at the ripple effect and how that affects other moments.

Like a child wanting something at the store, I often demand that God answer right now! To me, what I’m asking for is urgent, but I’m learning that God has a plan and will answer in His time and in His way. In Psalm 69, David is praying desperately for God to answer him. He felt like he was drowning in his circumstances and he cried out to God to save him. Then in verse 13, he changed his tone. He prayed, “Answer me, God, at a time you choose” (GNT). He understood that God’s time was different than His and He trusted God’s wisdom over His desires.

I’ve been learning a lot about prayer this year so I can better communicate with God. When I read this verse, it changed how I pray. I’ve got to learn to trust His timing and His answer. I can’t just look at my life through and circumstances through my lenses. I need to learn to see things the way God does so that I can better trust what He’s doing and when He’s doing it. If I trust Him for my salvation and as my provider, then I need to learn to trust His timing too.

Photo by Kate Krivanec on Unsplash

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March 7, 2018 · 5:47 AM

Trusting The Plan

One of the things I love about King David is that He kept trusting God no matter what was going on. When there was a giant threatening his nation, He believed God would deliver them. When he was sent back to tending sheep after he was anointed king, he kept praising God. When he sinned, he cried out for forgiveness. When nothing was going right, he went to the Rock that was higher. He was human just like us, but he learned to fully trust God no matter what was happening in his life.

Before he became king, Saul thought if he could kill him, his own son would be king instead. David spent a lot of time running from Saul and living in caves. He knew that God had anointed him to be king, yet here he was living in a cave instead of a palace. He didn’t cry out asking God why he wasn’t king. Instead, in Psalm 57:2 he said, “I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill his purpose for me” (NLT). Even though the promise seemed out of reach, he trusted in God’s plan.

If your life isn’t where you thought it should be or if it feels like you’re on the defensive, trust God’s plan. Ive found that God grows us and shapes us in the caves of life. He uses them to prepare us for His plan. Instead of being upset and angry that things aren’t working out according to your plan, thank God that He has a plan and He’s working it out in your life. The cave is worth the price you pay for the life God is leading you to. He will fulfill His purpose for you.

Photo by Aziz Acharki on Unsplash

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