I’ve had some serious plans
challenged, blocked and even permanently stopped – ones that I was fully
confident would prevail. These closed doors bring with them temptations to
doubt God’s sovereign control and his promised goodness over my life. But he
guarantees in his Word that none of his plans can be thwarted (Job 42:2) and
that no one and nothing can “turn back” or “restrain” his powerful hand (Isa 14:27, Dan 4:35, 2 Chr 20:6). His promises always trump my disappointments
and feelings and point me back to his faithful love and ability to not just
direct my life but the whole universe. He is trustworthy, which means I can
trust him for everything and in every season of life.
On days when I’m fighting unbelief
and trying to make sense of disappointment, Psalm 96:10 reminds me that, “The
world is firmly established, it cannot be moved." He not only spoke the entire
creation into existence in a matter of six, 24 hour days, but he upholds
everything and everyone by his power (Heb 1:3). He is unstoppable and able to do
everything according to his wisdom and kindness (Eph 1:11).
I’m learning that while faith is
trusting God’s Word over everything, it does not mean I have to deny feelings
of fear. I can declare by faith that God
is good and reliable and in control even when I feel afraid or like David says,
“When I am afraid I will trust in you" (Ps 56:3). It’s natural for me to feel
disappointed and even fearful when goals are blocked, especially when I believe
they’re necessary for life. But God promises that he’s fully committed to
taking care of me, even to my “old age and gray hairs" (Isa 46:4). He’s fully committed to
providing for all of my needs, “according to his riches and glory in Christ
Jesus” (Phil 4:19), and he’s promised that he’s holding on to my hand as I walk through
difficulties and disappointments (Isa 41:13, 42:6).
My plans are just that – human
plans that are faulty and can fail. But God’s plans for my life cannot be
stopped by nature, humans, institutions or my own lack of ability (Isa 14:27). He is able
to do exactly what he plans since “power and might are in his hand” (2 Chr 20:6).
If I choose by faith to believe that he is all good, all
powerful and loving and that his plans are unstoppable, I’m free to enjoy him
and live for his glory without the pull of anxiety that I might not get what I
think I want or even deserve. There have been so many goals that I thought were
good, only to find out after a season of disappointment that they were not
God’s goals for me and, as a result, they were not what I truly desired. His
plans and goals are the ones I want, even when it means giving up my right to
understand the reasons behind them.
"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Who has ever given to God that God should repay them? For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen!" (Rom 11:33-36).
"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Who has ever given to God that God should repay them? For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen!" (Rom 11:33-36).
