I have been struggling with the fact that I don’t know what is going to happen in my life. I have been doubting God’s good and faithful plan for me. I keep saying to myself and my close friends and family that, yes, I have been going through a transition in my life, but God’s plan is bigger than my own. I keep saying it because I know it’s true, but I’m having a hard time believing it. As a Christ-follower, I know that God has so much more in store for me, but since I don’t know what that is, I am doubting that it will actually happen.
How horrible of me. Doubting God! Doubting my Maker, the Source of all love and grace, the Creator of the entire universe with all of its intricacies, and the Writer of my plans. All I can think about my past thoughts and actions is that I need to let God radically change my heart. To let it be broken so that He alone can heal it and mold it into His desire.
I was reading two different devotionals on the YouVersion Bible app. One is about exploring individual gifts and the other is about pursuing God. On the first one, about exploring individual gifts, one of the day’s devotions was through the book of Esther.
“’For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for a time such as this?’” (Esther 4:14).
What God was saying to Esther through Mordecai is that she can either be a part of His plan or not, but it is still His plan, and it will prevail. When I read that, I was blown away and immediately convicted. I have been thinking that if I don’t do something then it just won’t happen, but that isn’t true. If God wills something, I will not be able to stop that plan from going into motion.
God gives me opportunities to live out my passions and live out what will bring me joy while giving Him glory and fulfilling His plans. I am given the opportunity to aid in those things, and I can choose what I want to do with that. So many times, I have let fear of many things get in the way of following the chances He gives me, but I want to be like Esther. I want to take God’s hand and let Him help me fulfill His plans.
Another connection to this is a sermon I heard in church last Sunday. My pastor was basically telling the congregation to let God use us. He said that we are all part of the body of Christ, whether it be a hand, foot, ear, eye, or any other body part. We all have a purpose to fulfill in the church. We must all work together and use our spiritual gifts to fulfill His plans. Of course, He can do anything alone, but He is giving us an opportunity to aid and glorify Him. Passing up the chance to serve Him will not hinder Him, but it won’t help us either.
We all have plans, fears and anything else to stop us from pursuing His will for our lives, but in order to live fully in and with God, we need to let Him take it all and build for us a new plan and a new life. The passage of Ephesians 1:1-14 tells us that we, as believers, will be used by Him to fulfill His will. We are told that God chose us and we are a part of His body for a purpose. We are called, as Christ-followers, to bring Him praise and glory. In the first verse, it reads, “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God…” By the will of God. Paul was called to be an apostle. Of course, He could have chosen to decline that opportunity, but since he didn’t, he was used in magnificent ways.
You see, just as God called Paul and Esther to bring glory to His name and fulfill His will, He has also called you and me. Any one of us can pass on that, but we would be missing out on some great growth in Jesus as well as playing a part in bringing glory to His name. Whatever we plan for, God will always have the upper hand in it. God will always change our path for us to get the chance to be a part of His plan. But we must also choose that plan. We can choose to let it pass by us, but that won’t help us. God’s plan will prevail whether we are a part of it or not.
So, there isn’t much of a real excuse for us not to have that. No matter the fears we have or the uncertainties, God’s purpose will happen. If we choose to be a part of it, He will provide for us everything we need as well as give us peace at heart to grow in Him. Be a part of the plan. If you don’t know what God is calling you to do or you are unsure how His plan will work in your life, I encourage you to open your Bible, pray, and confide in another member of the church. Through the Bible and prayer, we get a direct connection with God and what He wants for us. And Christ says that He will be in the presence of any two or more gathered in His name (Matthew 18:20).
Through those three things, we will be surer of what God has called each of us to and we will be better prepared and equipped for His plan. That uncertainty in His faithful nature and desire will be washed away from us and replaced with peace and bravery. Our plans will change, but the plans of God never will. God never changes and He remains ever faithful, so we must put our trust in Him and be a part of His will.
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails,” (Proverbs 19:21).
