Plans

Lately I feel like every plan I make, fails. I made plans for my birthday, they fail through. My husband tried to find something else, but I had my heart set on my original plans. I rescheduled those plans, and then cancelled out other plans I had made with a friend because the availability fell on the same weekend. Then my friend and I made new plans, and those were changed by the airlines, which then caused me to cancel. It’s just been a cycle of broken plans based on my stubbornness.

It hasn’t just been big plans that I am trying to coordinate, small plans too have been falling though or not turning out as I expected. My husband and I went to one of the National Parks on Saturday, we headed to a second, and by the time we got there it was closed. On Sunday, we went to another National Park. We visited one site and hiked the 3 trails, which were short but more strenuous than my normal walking. My husband also pointed out the shoes I had on were not made for hiking, more for a casual stroll (Which is really what I thought the day would be).

Then we headed to another site close by. We started along the 2.2 mile trails, and realized we had not brought enough water to be walking out in the hot sun. So we turned around, I did not have enough water for the return trip either. I spent the last half of our walk back praying for God to help me make it back to the car (Where I had a lot of water)!

We only walked about five miles throughout the day, which is probably more than we had planned when we set out in our day. Two days later, I am so sore, getting up and down and those initial steps, I look like I belong in a nursing home. I didn’t do enough planning for the hiking we did.

There is a little quote I have heard, that really makes me feel like God is enjoying a good laugh. “If you want to hear God laugh, tell Him your plans.” The Bible has much to say about the plans of man.

Psalm 33:10The Lord nullifies the plan of nations; He frustrates the plans of peoples.

Psalm 33:11The plan of the Lord stands forever, The plans of His heart from generation to generation.

Psalm 36:4He plans wickedness on his bed; He sets himself on a path that is not good; He does not reject evil.

Psalm 81:12 So I gave them over to the stubbornness of their heart, To walk by their own plans.

Proverbs 16:1 The plans of the heart belong to a person, But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

Proverbs 16:3 Commit your works to the Lord, And your plans will be established.

Proverbs 16:9The mind of a person plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.

Proverbs 19:21Many plans are in a person’s heart, But the advice of the Lord will stand.

Isaiah 25:1 Lord, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name; For You have worked wonders, Plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness.

Jeremiah 18:12 But they will say, ‘It’s hopeless! For we are going to follow our own plans, and each of us will persist in the stubbornness of his evil heart.’

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

I admit, my plans have been frustrating to me lately. I realize some of these plans I had not taken time to involve God in, I just made up my stubborn little mind and moved forward. I have allowed Him into some plans, but not all. God wants to be part of every part of my life. He has plans for every part of my life, if I will let Him be involved. God’s plans for me are good; even when the path is difficult it will eventually end up for my good.