Since we were children, people have asked us, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" The world has taught us to believe that we have to have our lives all planned out in order to be successful. However, things don't always go according to plan. Often times we think we know what's best for our lives, when in reality we have no idea what we're doing.
While your plan for the “perfect” life is ideal, God’s plan for your life is incredible. Jeremiah 29:11 says, "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 a hope and a future."
Whenever times get hard, it is easy to get discouraged and lose hope. One thing I'm guilty of is worrying about things. I worry way more than I should, but I have come to realize that it is in those times when we must give our worries over to God.
The Bible says in Philippians 4:6-7, "Do not worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." Sometimes it may seem as if God hasn't heard your prayer, but God is always listening. He hears us when we pray, and there is never a prayer that goes unanswered.
You may feel like you are constantly being tested in your life with various trials. Joel Olsteen once said, "We as humans are like plants. Just like plants, there are things that we have to go through in order to grow. Plants need fertilizer to grow, and as we all know fertilizer doesn't have a very pleasant smell. Like fertilizer, sometimes life stinks, but the parts of life that stink are what help us grow."
Your situation may not be good, but I can guarantee you, God is working things out for your good. Sometimes our plans don't work out because God is preparing us for something greater. God’s plans may not always be clear, but trust me, God has a plan for your life that greatly exceeds anything you could ever have planned out for yourself. He tells us in His word, He will never leave us or forsake us. We may not always understand why things happen the way they do, but we must remember that ultimately, He is the one who knows what is best.
When trouble comes, remember to trust God. He has a perfect plan.
