"Change Of Plans"

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." Jeremiah 29:11 

Things don't always go according to our plans. Plans tend to fail, obstacles arise and get in the way of our plans, circumstances change that hinder our plans, situations take us in a different direction than we had planned. Health issues, loss of income, death in the family, job transfer, the birth of a child, etc. all affect our plans. Our plans are never in "concrete" as we would like to think they are. Look at the life of Joseph. I am sure he had plans. His plans included growing up in his own home with his father and family, but that was not the case. Instead his life went in a direction he would have never planned-- sold into slavery by his own brothers, spending most of his life in Egypt, being thrown into prison. 

 

When plans change, and not always in what appears to be a good way, if you are a born again child of God there are a couple of things you need to keep in mind. Always remember that your life is in God's hands. He sees all, He knows all, and though the change in plans may have taken you by surprise they have not taken God by surprise. He saw them coming and is working through them to give you "an expected end"-- hope in the midst of the situation. 

 

Remember too that when plans change, it doesn't mean that God is not still in control. Joseph's life went through many changes. Just as he finally accepted his new life in Egypt as a slave, Potiphar's wife lies on him and he is thrown into prison. At that point one would think that God was not in control or that He had abandoned him. But God was always in control because He was always there watching over the entire situation. 

 

Lastly, when plans change not only is God still in control and not taken by surprise at the change in your situation, He is also working even this change of plans together for your good. I didn't say the situation or change was good- slavery, lies told on you, prison was not a good thing- but God can take the change of plans and bring something from it that will work together for good on your behalf. So when your plans change, remember that God has a plan and He can turn the change of plans around for your ultimate good.

 

Have a great day. Things don't always go according to our plans, but when they change always remember that God is still in control and can work all things together for your good. 

 

For further reading:

Genesis 45:6-8

Romans 8:28

Colossians 3:3