Probably many of you have set plans or goals for the new year. I don’t usually have time to think about it much until the rest of the family’s first work day after Christmas. Then, when I have some quiet moments to myself, I can sort through what I’d like to do in the year ahead.
I don’t make resolutions. I used to be against them as a set-up for failure until I did a study on the “I will” statement in the Bible. Then I saw anew 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 where Paul prays that God “may fulfill every resolve for good.” So it’s not wrong–and in fact, it’s much needed—to resolve by God’s grace and prayer to make changes. We’re not going to float into godly living. We can’t do it on our own, but we need to “think on [our] ways” and then “turn [our] feet to your testimonies” (Psalm 119:59).
Still, though a new year is a good time to take stock, I am more likely to make those kinds of changes as I see the need for them rather than on Jan. 1.
But I do like to make plans for the year. Sometimes the tasks are mundane: reorganize the pantry or closet; complete the dress I started last year (or the year before. . . ), etc. Sometimes the listed items are more involved and will take a major shift, like the changes that will need to take place if I am ever going to finish this book I am trying to write.
I know better than to make plans first and then ask God to bless them. I try to remember to pray, asking God’s guidance as I make plans. I take into account James’ admonition:
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” (James 4:13-15).
When I pray and plan that way, I feel that any interruption or change of plans is a signal that something’s wrong. Did I sin? Did I miss God’s guidance? Is Satan trying to trip me up? Is someone else sinning against me? I prayed asking for God to guide me, so these plans must be His will.
But sometimes the change is part of the plan. I don’t know why God seems to lead people one way and then changes courses. Maybe to increase their trust and dependence, maybe because there was something they were to learn or do along the way. Sometimes interruptions are the ministry, not a hindrance to ministry.
Whatever the case, I am coming to learn that God’s highest blessing may not be having my plans and dreams turn out like I want.
Coming through this last Christmas season, I was struck once again by Mary’s willingness to have her plans totally overturned when the angel announced that she was chosen to mother the Messiah.
We don’t know what Mary’s plans for life were except that she was betrothed to Joseph, a carpenter. He seemed to be a quiet, godly man of character. They would not be well off, but I am sure Mary planned a cozy domestic life with a good man and a house full of children.
She did receive those things, but with a major twist. Her firstborn child would come before she knew a man physically, and that child would not end up leading a quiet, obscure life once He came to adulthood.
We don’t know if Mary realized everything that bearing and carrying Christ would mean: the gossip, the possibility that she would lose Joseph, the sorrow to come at Jesus’ death. But she was willing to do whatever God wanted her to do.
I think of Moses, who had thought he was supposed to help his fellow Israelites in Egypt. But that hadn’t worked out so well. Now he was resigned to keeping his father-in-law’s flock in Midian. Then suddenly God speaks to him from a burning bush. Yes, God planned for him to aid Israel, but He had a much bigger plan than Moses had imagined.
Numerous people in Scripture were stopped in their tracks to change course at God’s direction: Abraham and Sarah were sent from Ur to a land of God’s promise; David was called from tending sheep to being anointed king; Zechariah and Elizabeth found out they’d be having a baby at an advanced age; all the disciples were called from their occupations to follow Christ.
We knew a young couple on deputation to be missionaries when one of their children developed leukemia. One of our former pastors was in seminary when he was in a car accident that left him a quadriplegic.
I think Elisabeth Elliot probably assumed she would be on a foreign mission field all her life. And when Joni Earcekson Tada went diving one day as a teenager, she had no idea how her life was about to change. But where would we be without the testimonies of these two dear ladies that came about as a result of their changed plans?
Sometimes it’s hard to know when an obstacle to our plans is from God or Satan. Isobel Kuhn‘s mother was violently opposed to Isobel’s going to Bible college. Isobel received wise advice from a mentor about how to pray and wait for God to open the way. He taught her to pray something like, “Lord, if this obstacle is from you, I accept it. If it is from Satan, I refuse him and all his works.” This stood her in good stead in later years when she and her husband were on furlough, ready to go back to China, and they received word that the way was closed. The other missionaries were ready to acquiesce and take it as the Lord’s will, but Isobel felt strongly that God wanted them to go. She didn’t argue, but she went quietly into another room and prayed—and soon they received the okay to go.
So it’s good to pray and wait when a situation isn’t clear. But when a change in plans is obviously from God, we need to accept it. I’m afraid I am more like Moses, arguing with God, or reluctant like Gideon, or, sadly, sometimes even resistant like Jonah, whether changes are minor or life-altering. Oh, for grace to be like the disciples who dropped their fishing nets or left their tax desk immediately when the Savior called, or like Mary, who readily yielded herself to God’s will.
Often it seems that when God changes our plans, the end result is a greater usefulness and greater display of His power and glory than we had imagined. And that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it?
(I often link up with some of these bloggers.)
Stray Thoughts 
Your many reminders of those in the Bible whose plans were changed for a higher purpose, is truly something we need to keep in mind. It’s not God letting us down. It’s God lifting us up for His glory. .
What a wonderful way to put it–God doesn’t let us down, even when things don’t go the way we thought best.
It is important to be open to God changing our plans, and to remember that his purposes are always good even when life doesn’t turn out as we hoped or planned.
Amen, it is. It isn’t always easy–but we have to keep reminding ourselves that His ways are higher than ours.
Being the control freak that I am, I needed to read this. So often, when my plans blow up in smoke, I feel helpless and so out of control. Which is where God probably wants me to be. Great post!
That’s a good point–God has to remind us of our helplessness and lack on control (or even wisdom, sometimes, about what’s best) not to demean us, but to encourage us to put our trust in Him and not our own machinations.
Such a great post, Barb, we need to remember we can make our plans, but God’s sovereignty may choose to change our plans. Not that they were wrong, but because it’s what’s best and good for us! I am still learning to hold loosely to my own plans!
I am still learning, too. I’m afraid trusting that God’s way is best is not my first instinct when my plans are wrecked–that’s why I need to remind myself of these things so often.
nice blog, i like this post
Thanks!
Yes, sometimes it’s true that “change is part of the plan,” and I am getting better at acceptance, but it’s definitely a growth point for me!
Me, too. I’m afraid acceptance is not my first instinct.
Helpful thoughts here! I have noted before that, the older I get, the harder it is for me to deal with change. I wish this weren’t the case. You have encouraged me to deal with interruptions and plan-changes with patience and prayerfulness.
I have found that, too. I need frequent reminders that He allows and even orchestrates those changes for my best interests.
It’s true, “sometimes the change is part of the plan.” While I may not always understand the why or details of the change, I am learning to trust Him with the change. He alone knows the beginning from the end, and all that is in between.
Amen, Joanne. I need frequent reminders to trust and accept.
Indeed sometimes change is part of the plan. It’s all about trusting him cause his plan is always far better than ours.
Indeed it is–something I need to remind myself of often.
Thank you so much for sharing at #SeniorSalonPitStop. Glad to have you with us and hope to see lots of your posts this year. Happy and all the best for 2022. I have shared on SM
Thank you, Esme!
And my word this year is trust. As I read your words all I could see was trust in him every scenario was trust trust trust. Even when I don’t know I must trust. But I really appreciated the story of Kuhn returning to the mission field. I feel like it was ‘trust but know me and my will for your walk’. Thank you for sharing these stories.
Sometimes it seems that when we talk about New Year’s resolutions we either sidestep God, or maybe worse, add Him in as an afterthought. I really appreciate your biblical treatment of this subject. Thank you!
Love this article! I have often strugglef with change of plans, but the more I walk with God, the more I am learning to accept His will and plans with open heart even though I not always understand or see the good in it. Learning to trust Him more ..
This reminds me of when my husband and I moved from Indiana to ohio. My husband started a brand new job and it had only been a month and my husband lost his job. We were somewhat confused on why we moved all this way to have everything just taken from us. But we learned that maybe God has a bigger plan. And that maybe he was trying to teach us a lesson of trusting him. My husband has since found another job and has learned from his experience with the previous job. And we also learned to trust God more than ever. God has control of everything. And we just had to learn to rest in that.
Barbara, I’m like you in that I tend to make changes as needed rather than build up to some new year resolution. I also appreciate the truth that change is often part of God’s plan. Hard to accept at the time, but it’s good to be able to look back and see the occasions when those changes actually did bring God greater glory (and us greater blessing too).
Well I think perhaps God allowed me to wait until today to read this rather than when you first linked up to Scripture & a Snapshot. You see, on Monday all our plans abruptly and unexpectedly changed when my husband’s employment ended. We have been processing the news and trying to catch our breath this week and are now settling into the realization that our next steps are to push on doors and see which ones God opens, and prepare for change as best we can. We do not want to move – it wasn’t in our plans for another couple of years at least! – but maybe God has other ideas? Or maybe it’s just a change of employment but not location (oh how I hope this is God’s will!)? Our commitment to trusting HIM as our provider is being tested. Thank you so much for sharing these encouraging and reassuring thoughts that are so timely for me.
Oh wow, Kym! That is a huge change, especially when unexpected. We’ve had a couple of major moves, but with plenty of notice. It would be so much harder to have a job end suddenly. I hope and pray you’ll be able to stay where you are, Lord willing. Praying He will guide you and your husband to just the right situation at just the right time and provide for you all along the way. “Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee” (Psalm 143:8b).
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Barbara, I love this: “But sometimes the change is part of the plan.” Often, we view interruptions with frustration, but with God ordaining our time and our calendars, then He has a reason for the change.
Barbara,
Beautiful reminder that God has a plan for each of us and it’s important for us to ask for His direction in our lives instead of saying, “I’m going to do this or that.” Your closing verse I jotted down to place on my refrigerator so I can see it frequently for the reminder that I need. Have a blessed day and new year!
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