When our life plans fail to meet our expectations, chances are great, God has thrown us a curveball. Note that we’re not referring to the hard-to-hit spinning baseball, but the alternate definition, which relates to the “unexpected, surprising or disruptive”.
Some events that categorize God’s curveballs include: marriages we thought were sweet turn sour, laid-off from a great job, injury accident, leftover month at the end of our money or getting dumped by romantic interest.
There is no easy way to reconcile the lumps and bumps that cause our life plans to go awry. Sure, we can get angry and frustrated and keep doing it our way, when God’s plans are different from ours.
Or, we can simply trust God’s wisdom.
Trust in God’s Wisdom
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. – Proverbs 3:5
Where wisdom is concerned, we think our wisdom for accomplishing our life plans is greater than God’s wisdom. Yet, this is in direct opposition to what scripture speaks about. God knows of our trials and tribulations and the best way to manage them. He sends curveballs so that we can reach our highest potential.
No matter how hopeless situations may seem, when we put unconditional trust in God, he will guide and protect us. If life keeps spinning in a negative space, we must remind ourselves that God is in control.
God is All-Knowing
Remember the former things of old: for I am God and there is none else; I am God and there is none like me. – Isiah 46:9-10
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. – Revelation 22:13
I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you and not harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future. – Jeremiah 29:11
God is omniscient. He is all-knowing. He has plans for our future. In comparison, our knowing is finite, especially about how things we do now affects our future. God knows what is right for our development as a Christian.
Yet, he won’t give us trials to tough to manage. It’s best to quit hanging on, trying to do it our way and hand the situation back to God. Obviously, he has different plans.
Don’t mistake this to mean we can’t make our own decisions. God is pleased when we use our intuition and fortitude to solve problems. But, when we keep doing the same thing, without achieving results, it makes sense to “let go and let God”.
God’s Ways vs. Our Ways
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. – Isaiah 55:8-9
God lets us know in explicit terms that his thoughts and ways are higher than ours. We weren’t designed to understand God’s ways when bad things happen in our lives.
When God is meddling in our life plans, albeit with good intentions, we don’t understand why. Sometimes, we can’t feel his presence and believe he abandoned us. Take comfort in knowing he will not desert us or forget about us. He is simply not ready to reveal his intricate plans.
Final Thoughts
Proverbs 16 tells us: “1To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the LORD comes the proper answer of the tongue…3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”
And, that sums it up nicely.