Trusting In His Plan

Some of us love change. We live for the thrill of it. Others find ourselves fighting panic when the mere idea floats across our minds. But if we’re honest, we all find change a little scary.

Certain changes feel better than others. The excitement of a new career opportunity is nothing like what we experience as we grieve the pain of a miscarriage … a layoff … a relationship that dead-ends and leaves us baffled.

No matter the change we face, stress usually travels with it hand in hand. And as humans, we handle stress by looking for a way to cope. Many of us handle change by using the “change management” approach. In other words, we ask ourselves how to ease the danger of the unknowns. How can we prepare for all possible outcomes? How do we game the system? How can we control this?

Proverbs 16:9 tells us “we can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.” Think of it. If the Lord knows every detail of what lies ahead – if our Father has good intentions toward us in the midst of it – then our task becomes less about knowing the outcome and more about knowing Him.

We need to figure out what it means to walk with our Lord through the haze of change. To practice knowing and embracing His presence as we navigate difficult situations.

 We do this by staying close to Him. This looks like a morning of prayer and surrender. It looks like scouring His word for the truth. Inviting others to witness our struggles – especially the heartbreaking ones. Wandering in nature. Being silent. Sitting with a counselor and opening ourselves to another’s wisdom.

When we seek to keep in step with the Spirit in the midst of change, we’re choosing to trust in our Lord and Savior. That He knows what’s best for us. That He has a plan. And that we can trust Him. God’s presence is not the passageway to our destination. He is the destination.

Father, I don’t know how all this turns out. You do. So teach me to simply be in Your presence. Come close and make me aware of Your guiding hand. Open the eyes of my heart to what You would have me see. Give me the courage to trust in Your goodness. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

This devotion provided by Keri Assante of Compassion International, Marketing Engagement Specialist and Child Advocate