There are times when our plans end up failing or unmet no matter what we do. We plan something, we prepare our resources for it, and we take extra effort in making sure no detail remains unconsidered, but our plans get canceled anyway. Isn't it frustrating when this happens?
When this happens, many of us respond the wrong way. We end up sourgraping. We feel bad that others push through with their plans, but we don't. Worse we point the blame towards God. After all, didn't He promise to give us what we asked for in faith?
When our plans don't push through
Friends, it will be good for all of us to realize that not everything we ask in faith will be given. This is because God's will takes precedence over our desires. Proverbs 19:21 tells us,
"There are many plans in a man's heart, nevertheless the Lord's counsel—that will stand."
Why does God's counsel prevail over our desires? Why does God's plans take precedence over our plans? Here are some things that will be good to consider:
His ways are better than ours
""For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts."" (Isaiah 55:8-9)
Our requests won't bring about Godly results
"You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures." (James 4:3)
He is Lord, and we are His followers
"Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me."" (Matthew 16:24)
Now that we've considered that, here are some things that we should do:
1) Submit to God and resist any feeling of anger or disappointment towards God
"Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." (James 4:7)
We've got to surrender our plans to God. If our plans don't push through no matter how much we prepare for it, perhaps our plans aren't really what God wanted for us. We've got to submit to Him no matter how "good" our plans may seem.
2) Plan according to His word
We should avoid being arrogant. Sure, money and riches allow us a lot of things, but if God doesn't want such things for us it would always be better to consider His will for us, James4:15 tells us,
"Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.""
3) Do everything to the glory of God
Friends, our plans may fail but we can still respond in a way that glorifies God. Let us choose to honor Him in all that we do, whether our plans succeed or not.
"And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." (Colossians 3:17)
