When Our Plans Aren't God's Plans

Well, readers, I have learned and am learning to stand, instead of control. I do not do a good job with me anyway. 2 stand out times in my life, I watched vividly as I KNEW God was in control not me. 3/25/02 a car accident, in the midst of it, I said ok God I am ready to go. I truly was, God had me leave the car and accident instead with only a gouge in my head. Also 05/14/04 I was spared again by God from a violation of a Demostic Violence order where I was almost murdered. I said the Lords prayer out loud several times and the Lord saw fit, my assailant passed out in front of me and I escaped. Because he was in control and I just stood as the Lord tells us to do all the time and seek his face. Sure I am not good at this yet, but better all the time through faith in my Jesus who strengthens me, and I thank Job for examples. not a brag, just a living testament !

Undoubtedly all of us have faced this type of situation in our lifetimes. When we have many plans and suddenly the events turn out far from our defined paath, we react in bitterness and sadness.
God has His own timetable, and so we should understand His signs once they come up.
Also, we have the tendency to devise plans for our lives and we set God apart from them, showing by this fact our pride and distrust toward Him. Maybe, if we humble before Him prior to make any plan and to undertake it, He will see us in favor and so His marvels will surprise us quite a lot.

I just joined... just now, in fact, because I followed a banner ad on a forum I frequent. This was the first thing I read and all I can say is WOW! You hit the nail on the head!

I am what I refer to as a Noobie Christian. I love hearing what others have to say about Christ and the Bible, because I feel it's God's way of teaching me His Word.

We have a wonderful relationship, The Lord and I. He guides me daily as long as I stay open to his Word and his (sometimes not so gentle) nudgings.

Thanks for this article! Now I'm off to read more!

I don't want this to seem like I totally misunderstood the purpose of this article, I actually really enjoyed its message.

I am just so impressed that you know Emil Zatopek! I am Czech and I knew he was famous but it really makes me happy someone out there over the ocean knows this name and what this great man has achieved :)

Thank you!

I really enjoyed your article this morning. It was a must read for me this morning. My husband & I just went through fertility procedures to try to conceive after 7 years of waiting for a child. We are now in the waiting stage to see what miracle God will perform. I happened to read Jeremiah 29:11 - 14 this morning. Our prayer through this is that God's Will (not ours) be done. He know what is best for our lives and we are trusting in Him through it. Even though we know what we want! "His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts!" Praise the Lord!
Thank you for sharing this much needed article! Sometimes our lives don't work out the way that we planned it. We have to rely on God & trust in His Ways.
God Bless you & your service for Him!

I found this article interesting. This is what I'm going through right now. I feel like I know what God wants me to do, but then it seems like it comes to a dead end and I've hit a brick wall.
As Jeremiah says, "God knows the plans he has for us...", but we think that our plans are His plans until He shows us that His plans are in a different area than what we thought it to be.
Have you written anything else, Cliff? Would like to hear more if you've written anything else.
God Bless Bro,
Tim

I found this article to be very inspiring! Thank you, Cliff. I had earlier been talking with the LORD and kind of complaining about my desires that seem to take too long for Him to fulfill. This article has confirmed my conclusions as I spoke with the LORD earlier today. God bless you!

I think that this story helps alot of the young ppl and probably alot of elders too. I am a 16 year old girl and this little bit of information that i have just read has really changed how I look at things in my life and i think that many ppl will feel the same way i do because this has made me think about be coming saved instead of remaining a sinner and i think this little story will change lives.

Very encouraging.

Though most of us see ahead with eyes of faith after a couple of years waiting, our human doubts pop up sometimes, specialy when when you are alone.

Yesterday I was discouraged because as a weak human I compared myself to my friends who are doing quite well and got me to wonder a bit and then felt weary,disheartned.

I went to bed thinking about my future and also knowing
that God will lift me up tommorrow somehow.

So here I am reading an article written just for me.
How great are the ways of The Lord.He gives strenght to move on.I am reminded again of 2 Cor 5:7 We live by faith not by sight.

The funny thing is I to am a planner and that is my job
as well oh how God taught me about surrendering my best laid plans.What a journey.

God bless you brother.