"Maybe God has a bigger plan for me than I had for myself."
A Walk to Remember
We all make plans. Plans for where we want to go to college, when we want to get married, how many children we want to have, where we want to live, what job we want to have, etc. However, rarely does life go exactly the way we plan it to, and we're left wondering why. The answer is simple: God has a specific plan to use you for His glory, whether you realize that now or not. This doesn't always make the heartbreak and disappointment any easier when things don't go our way, but God eventually has something bigger and better in store for your life, just He has had something bigger and better in store for His followers for thousands of years. Here are three different stories where things did not go as each man planned, but everything went exactly as God had planned:
Joseph
Joseph was born his father's favorite, so being sold by his brothers into slavery wasn't exactly part of his plan. In addition, he was falsely accused of trying rape an Egyptian official's wife, and he was thrown into prison. Despite the hardships he faced, Joseph trusted in God's planning, which lead to him befriending the prison keeper, who helped him earn a high position in Egypt. God used the high position, that Joseph had probably never imagined himself in, for Joseph to reunite with and forgive his family, as well as save a nation from starvation.
Jonah
God directly told Jonah to go to the dangerous, sin-filled city of Nineveh to tell the people about God, but this wasn't part of Jonah's plan. Instead, Jonah followed his own ways and headed for Tarshish out of fear. However, Jonah was swallowed by a big fish, who spit him back up when he repented. When Jonah finally let go of his stubbornness and followed God's plan for his life, he went to Nineveh, and God protected him and used him to save the Ninevites.
Matthew
Matthew was a corrupt tax collector. He spent his life collecting way more money for taxes than necessary and keeping the extra money for himself, but when Jesus invited Matthew to follow Him, he realized God's plans for his life were way more fulfilling and rewarding than his profession. He left behind his life of wealth and selfish desires to follow God's plan for his life and to become one of Jesus's disciples. God used him to create an eyewitness account of Jesus's life, which became the book of Matthew, one of the most read books of the entire Bible.
Verses about God's Plan
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you. Before you were, born I set you apart. Jeremiah 1:5
The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. Proverbs 16:9
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10
Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. Proverbs 19:21
Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Matthew 6:25
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you. Before you were, born I set you apart. Jeremiah 1:5
The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. Proverbs 16:9
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10
Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. Proverbs 19:21
Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Matthew 6:25
I hope this all makes sense and can help you to realize that everything doesn't always have to go your way. It just has to go God's way.
Peace be with you,
Emily
@living4himm
Peace be with you,
Emily
@living4himm