That Wasn’t the Plan

Have you ever had a plan that didn’t go accordingly?

It has happened to me! And I know I can’t be the only one.

You can plan something out to the last detail and then poof! Everything changes.

Is it necessarily a bad thing? Not at all.

It can be frustrating when your plans don’t work out how you thought they would, but they can also turn into something much better.

“People make plans in their hearts. But only the Lord can make those plans come true.”

Proverbs 16:1 ICB

The Bible tells us that only the Lord can make our plans come true!

Even though we may get discouraged when our plans get changed, delayed, or even canceled, we know that there’s a reason behind it.

When I’m trying to plan everything out, I can feel overwhelmed in making sure things go perfectly. But let me tell you, they seldom work out the EXACT way I planned. Most of the time, they work out better.

Now, I’m not saying that everytime a plan changes that I immediately notice that they worked out better. Nope. Most of the time, I struggle to find how this “new plan” is better than the one I planned.

It’s a process. And during that process there can be discouraging moments.

For example, I know I’ve mentioned this in the past, but I never planned to homeschool my children. I actually thought it was something that I could NEVER do. My husband and I were almost 100% set on sending our children to private school…until 2020 happened.

In 2020, COVID struck our world and caused devastation after devastation. Lives lost, turned upside down, and depression taking over. Not only this, but as the year went on, we notied hate become more and more prevalent and accepted in our society.

After witnessing what happened in the school system during that time and how it affected children, we started entertaining the idea of homeschooling.

Research, prayer, and guidance from those who were planning to homeschool or have successfully homeschooled children all the way through high school, gave us the belief that we could become a homeschool family.

“Plans fail without good advice. But plans succeed when you get advice from many others.”

Proverbs 15:22 ICB

Looking back, I don’t think any of my reasons were ever good enough for me not to try to homeschool. I had been listening to the voices of doubt and I started to doubt myself and some days I still find myself discouraged.

However, the Lord has been behind my plans to homeschool, so He has been giving me strength, wisdom, and like-minded people in my corner to help me along.

This is just one example of something in my life that I didn’t plan on.

Looking back on those moments of doubt and uncertainty, I can see how the Lord has used those times to strengthen me.

I am no longer letting others’ opinions rule my life, I am leanring to call on the Lord when I don’t know what to do, and I am seeking guidance from those wiser in this area of expertise.

No matter how your plans work out, just know that God is there for you. Call on Him when you don’t know what to do.

I promise, He will lead you down the right path, He will provide for you, and He will bring others in your life to encourage you.

“I have good plans for you, I don’t plan to hurt you. I plan to give you hope and a good future.”

Jeremiah 29:11 ICB