Pivot Well: God's Plans Rarely Go As We Planned

Ever had your plans changed in a mere nano second? You were heading in one direction, all bases covered and feeling right with the world. Then low and behold – out of nowhere -  God changes your direction - totally and completely - upending your normal and leaving you left standing scratching your head thinking what just happened. Ask me how I know. Of course, things can happen more gradually than that and we can be like the frog in the pot of water that is just beginning to boil, unnoticing the heat of the circumstances becoming fiery hot until we eventually look up and hopefully hop out. God’s mighty Hand moves in a myriad of ways. We must hold our plans loosely. They are not the Ten Commandments, Amen?

There is beauty in a faithful, steadfast spirit - one that is fully aware that God is in control of all things and not a single plan of His can be thwarted. He Who makes known the end from the beginning is on His throne and is in total control. Total.Control. Unlike us, He is never taken by surprise. Also, He loves us with an everlasting love and His eye is ever on us for our good and His glory - one never surpassing the other. While everything He allows may not “feel” that way, believers can rest assured that God is working all things He permits in their lives for their good. The “thing” may not be “good” but it will work for our good. We can take that to the proverbial bank of our choosing.  

This is why we must learn to pivot well. Change comes quite difficult for me. Not generally when it first happens but rather when the circumstance continues to linger and persist demonstrating this is going to be a new normal. Unfortunately, I can become a grumbler against God’s best for my life instead of embracing what He allows with joy. Yet, God is desirous of us to be a people who neither grumble nor complain (ouch!) even when He changes the course of our lives. Not easy for anyone – especially if it is a change totally not of our choosing. There is always purpose in it. He will either eventually change us out of it or He will change us in it – the latter being the greater miracle. Only God can change a heart and give it a totally different leaning – and we want that. Indeed, change can be confusing and hard to embrace especially if it is changing in a way we are unfamiliar with - but we praise anyway because we are certain He is using that, even that, for our good. The sacrifice of praise is costly but it is dear to the heart of God and we will find that it uplifts us as well. Nothing like a thankful heart when things are not of our choosing – it is unearthly in its nature and pleases God.