plans

Proverbs 16:9 states:

"The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps."

My thoughts today are about making plans. We all do this. We plan for life to work out a certain way; we make plans for our future, and have ideas about how it will all work out. Even me, I made plans for how life would be, and then all of a sudden... those plans got changed. The car accident was not part of my life plans, yet; somehow I have had this feeling from the beginning that it was all a part of God's plan for my life. I can't say I liked it, I mean, it was painful in so many ways; but all the while, I had this sense of peace that God would use this for good if I will be willing to let Him show me how.

Proverbs 16:3 states:

"Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established."

Romans 8:28 states:

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."

I believe God causes all things. In his providence, God orchestrates all the events that happen in our lives. This means to me that God even orchestrates suffering. I also believe that he plans things to accomplish a greater plan -- that is -- His master plan. He does this for our benefit (even though in the moment it doesn't always feel that way). Hindsight has made this clearer for me.

I want to encourage you to remember these promises of God. Even though we make plans, if they get changed... it may be for our own good. God loves you. He cares about you, and even though there is pain and suffering in this life, there is an even greater life to come if you put your faith and hope in Him.

I leave you with this verse:

Philippians 1:21

"For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain."