When Plans Get Sidelined
Sometimes things just don’t go as planned.
You prepare for a certain outcome, and it falls apart. Everything seems to be going smoothly, then an obstacle shows up. Suddenly, the plan is impossible. It’s frustrating. It’s disappointing. We pray and ask God for answers. After all, He knows the “why” behind everything. But usually, His answer doesn’t come right away. The “why” only shows up further down the road.
I Remember a Time
I remember when I had carefully planned our first Spring Clean-Up at camp in Alberta. We were going to offer free lodging or camping to anyone willing to help. Everything was lined up and ready. But when I drove up to check if the camp had thawed out enough, I couldn’t believe what I saw. Snow still covered large patches of ground, and the lake was frozen solid.
The year before, we’d made the mistake of opening too early in May. When we turned on the water system, we discovered the sewer lines were still frozen. That was a disaster I didn’t want to repeat. So this time, I gave the ground a couple of extra weeks to thaw. But it still wasn’t!
Learning to Trust God’s Timing
On top of that, the forecast was calling for steady rain that weekend. I had no choice but to cancel, I was frustrated, and I felt like all the planning had been wasted. But looking back, I can see what I couldn’t then.
God knew something I didn’t. He was protecting us from unnecessary mess and hardship. He was teaching me (again) to rest in His timing. Patience has never been my strength. Maybe that’s why God keeps giving me practice. He loves me enough to teach me through disappointment.
Resting in His Control
Have your plans ever been sidelined? If so, you know the sting of disappointment. But here’s what I learned: if it’s out of our control, it must be in God’s control.
Proverbs 21:1–2 reminds us: “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will. Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart.”
When our plans fail, we can remember the true Author is still writing the story.
Join the Conversation; Share Your Thoughts
- When’s the last time your plans failed?
- How did you feel when your schedule got sidelined?
- What was the final outcome, and how did God use it?
