God’s Plan For Your LifeSample

The three, unwritten rules of plans 

Picture this: You buy a brand-new shirt you can’t wait to wear to school because you just know it’s the thing that will finally get that cute guy or girl to notice you. You plan out your outfit and make sure it all matches perfectly. When you’re eating lunch, tragedy strikes: you spill ketchup all over your new shirt—just as the person you’ve had a crush on forever walks up to your table.

Sometimes, life doesn’t go as planned.

In the Bible, there’s a story about a guy named Gideon. Not only was Gideon from the weakest clan in the tribe of Manasseh but also he was the weakest person in his family. He was definitely an unlikely person for God to choose. Later, God leads Gideon into battle against the Midianites, an enemy tribe, with 38,000 men. Then, God tells Gideon he has too many warriors, and if they defeat the Midianites, it’ll look like they did it by themselves. So, Gideon sends 20,000 men home. God said that’s still too many, so eventually, Gideon is left with only 300 men. The Lord gives Gideon and Israel victory over the Midianites with only the 300 soldiers—which certainly wasn’t what Gideon had originally planned.

When we think about the future and what God has in store for us, it’s important to remember that things won’t always go as we plan them. 

In fact, there are three, unwritten rules of plans you should follow: 

1.) Plan to start over. Life is a series of starting over. As soon as you get middle school down, it’s time to start high school. Right when you think you’ve gotten the ins and outs of high school nailed, it’s time to start prepping for college and being a real adult. The truth is, it never ends. Learn to start over. When plans change, roll with it. You never know what God might be up to. Embrace the current season you’re in.

2.) Plan to say no. Sometimes, we have to say “no” to good things in order to say “yes” to the best things. We can’t do everything. Pray for wisdom to know where you should invest your time to have the biggest impact for God’s Kingdom.

3.) Plan to be creative. God’s plans can sometimes take us down paths we don’t expect. For Gideon, this involved using what he had—clay jars with torches instead of normal battle-ready weapons. Use the gifts God has given you today. Don’t worry about what other people have. Recognize that what God has given you with His help goes further than you can imagine.