Originally published Friday, 06 January 2017.
"I just want you to be able to earn a good living."
"Don't you want me to be happy?"
"What is happiness, Kelly?"
All I wanted to do, as I sat there and stared at the college buildings before me, was declare my major Psychology. Dad didn't agree. He wanted to make sure I was provided for, secure and set on a good track for the rest of my life.
"Kelly, I think business, law or medicine makes the most sense for you."
The plan was changing before my eyes. I'd no longer change the lives of the brokenhearted, heal their pain and comfort them in their time of need - I'd work on a profit and loss sheets. My shoulders slumped, because, in motion, was a huge change of plans.
Four years later, I graduated from business school.
A change of plans can feel heartbreaking. Frustrating. And, sometimes, heart-damaging.
It can leave you asking God:
Why did you leave me behind?
Didn't you know I wanted this?
How could you do this to me?
What change of plans has left you hands-on-hips frustrated?
In a place you don't want to be? Rejected?
They seem to pop up all the time. Sometimes I expect them to come. Sadly, I feel my excitement is about to be stomped out and I go into life fearing. You too?
With this, I figured, it'd be interesting to discover the biblical-why to changed plans.
Here are 4 reasons why plans change:
Satan thwarted the plan. Sometimes, where you're going is so opposed, you can't move forward. I don't confess to know why God permits it, but what I do know is we serve a good God, who takes bad situations and makes them work to our favor. In that we can trust.
For we wanted to come to you--certainly I, Paul, did, again and again--but Satan blocked our way. 1 Thess. 2:18
God wants to bless you with spiritual riches. I am sure to Simon, carrying the cross was the last thing he expected to do. In the moment, he probably hated carrying that grueling load. Looking back, however, it was probably the greatest honor of his life. He got to be there - with Jesus and for Jesus - in his time of need.
A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross” (Mark 15:21).
God is moving us back to his will. We might think our way is the best way, but no matter how odd, difficult or unusual, God's will always is what is best for us.
Matthew 16:21-23 21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things...and be killed and on the third day...Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.
The Holy Spirit is directing you according to the will of God. God knows where he needs his foot soldiers. He knows where to send his paramedics. He sees the field of war from the air. He is moving with a clear mission.
Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. Acts 16:6
Change of plans are not outside God's plan. Make no mistake, our changes of plans are under the authority of the One who controls all plans. Where you are today, is not an accident or an impediment to how God wants to use you, grow you or send you out. It is not a red light to your dreams or a path that cannot be met in full come the future. It is not a lost opportunity, but one that can be made up in a split-second, a million times better than you ever imagined.
Don't lose hope. God is God for a reason. We are under his reign because his reign is best. We can rest, heart calm, in this fact.
Just look at me today, I am a blogger, encouraging people like me - ones who at times feel brokenhearted, discouraged or downcast - people who need a helping hand. Isn't it interesting how God brought me back around to what he created me to do? As I figure it, my role is even more valuable than a counselor, for I point people to the only Counselor who truly heals - Jesus. He had a plan.
Not only this, but my business degree has aided me in the publishing world. I'm releasing a book, "Fear Fighting: Awakening the Courage to Overcome Your Fears" in January. I don't think I could have done this if I didn't have a little bit of business acumen. God knew.
God always knows.
Order Kelly Balarie's new book, Fear Fighting: Awakening Courage to Overcome Your Fears.
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