Do you ever have a plan, an expectation, a particular way you expect things to work out and then they don’t? You are caught off guard and can either really spin your wheels or instead take a breath and switch gears.
Ideally, you are able to switch gears, to take the surprising situation and make the most of it. But how do we become experts at switching gears? How do we let go of expectations and lean into the unknown?
Our Plans vs God’s Plans
One vitally important thing to remember is that God’s plans are bigger than our plans. He can see down the road, He knows what’s ahead, and when we live for Him, His plans are always for our good!
Is it wrong for us to have plans of our own? I don’t think so. But I think how those plans are handled is very important. Prayer, submission, giving them to God to guide us how He sees fit, etc. If we get too hung up on our plans and ideas and become frustrated or try to force things, that is not submissive or honoring to God.
One thing that fascinates me is that if we will seek God and submit to Him, He will direct our steps. It often won’t be as immediate as we might hope, but He will give us direction. He will help us determine the direction He would have us go. And I love that! I love that He cares about you and me individually even with a whole world of things to order and care for.
How to Determine God’s Direction
Switching gears to honor and submit to God is a wonderful direction to go. Living to serve God and others is one of the best things you can do with your life!
But how do we determine God’s lead and direction? How do we know when it isn’t just our wild imagination or random thoughts? Prayer and submission are two of the best things I know to begin with. And patience. Lots and lots of patience! I find that I often don’t know just what to do much before I need to give an answer. But that unknown helps me grow my faith in God, confident He will direct my steps as He always does!
One major determiner I fall back on: what is the right thing to do, as measured by God and His Word? A simple statement I read a few years back always holds true: you never do right by doing wrong. First off, I determine how my options measure up to God’s Word. If it’s obvious or even murky, then my decision is straightforward.
But on the other hand if either decision seems appropriate and fine, then I use other parameters to help me make the decision. I always ask for God to make the decision clear, but I also work to exercise my decision making skills. I set parameters, if…then, type boundaries to help guide the decision.
For instance, a while back I wanted to get a newer (to me) vehicle. I didn’t need a newer vehicle I just wanted an upgrade and to downsize a bit. After looking around, I found a style I liked so I researched features and cost, etc. I prayed about it a lot too. This may or may not seem like not that big a deal to you, but I don’t buy vehicles every day and didn’t want to be frivolous.
I remember praying and saying, Lord, if you bring this style vehicle, with these details and this price, within 60 miles, I’ll go look at it. The features and color and the price were a big ask, as I hadn’t actually seen that combo anywhere, I just liked the idea of all those things in one vehicle! And within a few weeks or so, there it was! So I asked my Dad to go look at it with me and now I have a pretty red ride!
But the point I’m making is decision making isn’t always an obvious yes or no. Sometimes you have to set rules to help make it clear. Ask God what those rules or boundaries might be and then be alert to His guidance.
Switching Gears
Switching gears in life requires grace and surrender. Realizing that even though our plans are not coming together like we thought or hoped, that God has the details and knows where He needs us.
Let me encourage you today to not give up on your dreams, but at the same time to boldly switch gears into where God currently has you. Perhaps you aren’t working the job you hoped for, but it seems pretty clear that where you currently are is where God directed you. Give your hopes and dreams to God and understand that just because this is how things are now doesn’t mean this is how they will always be.
Yet – add that word to your conversations, to your self-talk, to your journaling. What you dream about hasn’t happened yet. The home you want to buy isn’t available yet. Your husband hasn’t entered your life yet. One simple word can completely shift your message and can fuel your hopes and dreams!
So let’s switch gears and really lean into where God has us while we anticipate what He has put on our hearts. There is nothing I admire more than people who really step into where God has them!
Switching gears helps us focus on God’s plans over our plans. It helps us determine His direction when we make decisions and pursue where He has us. And it fuels us with hope as we anticipate what is ahead! Serving God well is all about flexibility, patience, surrender and hope.
“Whatever you do, do it with all your heart.” – Colossians 3:23
Until Next Time!
Hope.
PS. Keep reading: https://www.theamericanlady.com/2020/01/29/blessed-assurance/