When God's Plans Differ from Your Plans

My good pastor friend Tony Buchanan likes to say, "God is simply smarter than we are." So true. God's ways are higher, holier, and altogether better than our own.

When God's Plans Differ from Your Plans

"There are many plans in a man's heart,
Nevertheless it is the LORD'S counsel that will stand."

(Proverbs 19:21)

My good pastor friend Tony Buchanan likes to say, "God is simply smarter than we are." So true. God's ways are higher, holier, and altogether better than our own. Isaiah 55:8-9 states,

"'For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,' says the LORD.
'For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.'"

I think most if not all parents and grandparents would like to live within close proximity to their families. Some prefer to live right next door, others not so much. If we had our preference, we would have all three of our children and their children living within a few miles of us. And two of the three do just that! But not Bryant, Kyndall, Tabor, and Miller. They do not live in TX with the rest of us. They live in Arkansas, and they love it.

Bryant serves on the staff of Cross Church, AR, which has three campuses in Springdale, Rogers, and Fayetteville. They run about 10,000 people each Sunday. This is a great church led by a humble and gifted man of God, Nick Floyd. Occasionally we visit on a Sunday, and always–I mean always–enjoy our time at this church.

Since Bryant and his family do not live close to us (about 8 hours' drive), we make the effort to go see them as often as we can. We do not have the luxury of staying every Sunday because I too am a pastor and love preaching at our church on the Lord's Day.

Ashley and I have a choice to make. We can either be upset that our family is not in the same city, or we can rejoice knowing that Bryant, Kyndall, and the boys are exactly where they need to be. Of course, I would love for Bryant to serve on our team at our church, but that is not where he is supposed to be, at least for now. And if God never puts us on the same team in ministry, then that is okay, because God is just smarter than I am!

Can you relate? Maybe you have a dilemma that you are struggling with. Perhaps God's plan is not your plan, and you are having a tough time with that reality. Let me encourage you to rest in the wisdom of God. He knows things you simply do not. Trust His heart and His plan. He works all things out for the good (Romans 8:28)!

Partner with us in spreading the Gospel!

Will you help fuel our efforts to spread the Gospel
and equip and empower other Christians to do the same?

Count me in! ▶

Podcast of the Week

The Titus Ten: Authority

In this fifth part of his series on the Apostle Paul's letter to Titus and its application to us today (especially to men), Pastor Danny discusses what it means to live our lives in submission to God's authority and how that allows us to overcome temptation and sin and be active agents of good for God's Kingdom.

Listen on your preferred platform: