I was in a discussion group a couple of weeks ago and we got on the topic of what sayings did your parents tell you that stuck with you your whole life. One person said, “Trust the plan.” was what stuck with her. I thought that this was intriguing and after a couple of minutes, I realized that this is what we need to do regarding God’s plan, His will, in our lives.
We say the Lord’s prayer on a regular basis. It starts out with “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” How often do you think about what you are saying? “Thy will be done”. Do you really want God’s will, or do you want God to accept your will as what needs to happen? God’s will is the plan. There are a lot of things that we do not understand, and we need to trust what He has in store for us.
Now this is where this blog gets real! I do not feel it was by chance that I had been planning on writing on this topic. I had been thinking about it for over a week and decided to put down my thoughts while in my hotel room Monday night. As I finished the first two paragraphs above, I got a call telling me a dear friend’s son was unconscious and being taken to the hospital. I stopped writing and just sat there and prayed for his health. About 30 minutes later, I found out that he had passed away. He was only 45 years old and had no history to warn him about the possibility of a shortened life.
Now, I must put this belief into practice. I must trust His plan. This does not mean that I need to understand His plan, just to trust in it. There is no way that we can know what the future holds for his wife and young daughter. The shock and grief for the family is incomprehensible. The question is asked, “WHY?” You wonder how God can let something like this happen and let us suffer like this. Trust the plan. Trust the plan. That is what we must do.
Trusting God is more than a feeling; it’s a choice to have faith in what He says even when your feelings or circumstances would have you believe something different. Trusting God is not about ignoring your feelings or reality. It is not pretending that everything is OK when it isn’t. Trusting God is living a life of belief in and obedience to God even when it’s difficult. You are not facing these difficult times alone. The Lord is walking with you every step of the way. He also gives you other believers to walk with.
Fellow believers can remind you of God’s character through encouragement and accountability. They can pray for and support you. They can remind you of the truth when you’re struggling. Community reminds you that you are never alone, even in hard times. Remember that difficult times are just temporary. God is there with you forever.
Be thankful. This is difficult when things pile up on you, but you can look at any situation and find blessings in it. Recognize the blessings and thank Him for them. We have been given the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is within us and will guide us through the plan. That awareness of the Holy Spirit will help us recognize the steps we need to take to fulfill God’s will.
Keep in constant communication with God. Do not get discouraged. Pray without ceasing, He is always listening. We can lean on this Scripture from Isaiah.
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31
You are my community, as stated above. I ask for your prayers and support for this family to help them trust God’s plan and give them comfort and strength through the process.
