My Way or God’s Way

Being a planner was one of my well-known qualities since I was young. I always had a plan A and a plan B, just in case the first one didn’t work out the way I wanted. One of the things God taught me and continues to teach me throughout my life, from grade school to college and from college to where I am now, is the burden I carry when I try to control the outcome of every circumstance. I became anxious and felt the urge to have all my life's details mapped out.

I felt like I was the one in charge of my life, making all my decisions, calculating every step, and planning out every possible scenario whether it come to school, a job, or my relationships. Over time, this became very exhausting and time consuming. I was never living in the moment. Don’t get me wrong, we should have a plan and a direction in where we need to go when it comes to an education, a career choice, pursuing a relationship, or even getting involved in ministry. However, when we get to a place where we are wanting to control every step, every decision with minimal input from God, is where it gets to be problematic.

Proverbs 16:9 states “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”

We see the story of Ruth, a Moabite woman, who follows her mother-in-law to Israel after losing her husband. I am sure she had plans, hopes, and desires of her very own. I can imagine Ruth probably pictured a beautiful life with her husband, children, and growing old together. Instead, she is left with the tragedy of the death of her husband. However, after several attempts of her mother-in-law telling Ruth to go back to her people, Ruth is determined to follow her late husband’s mother. Some time passes, Ruth meets a man named Boaz who ends up marrying her and eventually, they have children. Much more happens in her story, but the one thing that stands out to me is Ruth, an ordinary woman, ends up becoming an ancestor of the Messiah! Because of Ruth’s obedience and faithfulness to God through trial and tragedy, God blesses her with a child named Obed. Obed becomes the father of David, Israel’s greatest king. David becomes the ancestor of Jesus the Messiah.

Look how God intervened so mysteriously, yet so perfectly in Ruth’s life. I am sure it was nothing that she even dreamt of and nothing she had planned or prepared for. Perhaps, she thought her story was over. God led her from tragedy to purpose, from ashes to beauty, from sorrow to Joy. Not only does she end up meeting Boaz who not only became her kinsman-redeemer, but Ruth also gets the privilege of being in the ancestry of Jesus. How amazing!

I think sometimes we cannot comprehend why certain doors close or when our plans do not go as hoped. For each door closed, rejection and detour in our life, God has a reason and a purpose. We may not understand it now, but we must hold onto our faith like Ruth and trust that God is working all things together for our good.

We should come to a place where we can truly lay our desires, ideas and plans at the feet of Jesus. Surrender sounds easier than it is to do. To surrender your plan completely to the Lord, without expecting it to go to the way you desire, can be difficult. What happens if it doesn’t go the way you want? What happens if you don’t get your dream job, or you don’t get into the school you wanted to get into? What happens when the relationship you were in comes to an end or that amazing ministry opportunity that you really wanted goes to another individual? Regardless of the outcome, can we trust that God knows what is best for us and that He is establishing each and every one of our steps? Are we able to let go of wanting to have everything go the way we want it to and allow God to take his authority in our life as the one who sits on the throne and has a beautiful plan for our lives?

It can be a journey to get to the place where we can truly trust God’s will for us. He always knows what is better for his children. It may not feel like it in that particular moment when something doesn’t go the way we quite expect it to. It is in those moments, I believe, where God wants us to completely let go our laid-out plans and surrender to His will. He has so much more for us that we can possibly dream or imagine.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.”

This Scripture encourages us to not depend on our own insight or understanding. It tells us to not rely on our understanding because sometimes we can be led by our own feelings and desires. We need the input and wisdom of God to recognize what God’s will for us in our lives.

Let’s pray.

Father,

We come to you with all laid out plans, desires and decisions that need to be made. We don’t know what to do, but we ask for wisdom and discernment in these areas of our life. For those who need to make tough decisions this week, give them the wisdom and revelation to do as you desire. For those who have plans for the next season of their life, give them peace and knowledge to carry out that plan if it is Your Will. We ask that you direct each and every step, decision and plan in accordance to your will. Help us to surrender it all to you and wait on you as you lead us day to day. We trust your amazing plans for our life. In Jesus name, Amen.

I encourage you as you begin this week and talk to God about your desires, dreams, and plans, ask Him what His will is for your life. Pray over those plans and ask God to lead you step by step, moment by moment.

Love,

Lindsey

A Woman of Worth