Real Hope: RevivalShembull

God’s Plan

That truth was revealed to me several years ago as I held a one-day evangelistic event in the town of Thunder Bay, Ontario. It was part of a larger youth tour we were doing across Canada. Starfield – a Canadian Christian band – performed each evening, and then I would get up and share the Good News of Jesus.

It was a great tour overall, but I was sick with a nagging cold on that particular night and deflated by the low turnout. The crowd was sparse, and I blamed myself and our team. We didn’t do our part for the sake of the Kingdom. We could have done more, I reasoned. In my mind, I moved on to the next city. “We’ll do better there,” I promised God.

Have you ever noticed God shows up when we get to the end of ourselves? He sure did that night in Thunder Bay! Despite my weak, uninspired preaching and discouraged attitude, the Holy Spirit moved powerfully in our midst. Though the crowd was small, 20% of the teens responded to the Gospel and placed their faith in Christ.

Afterward, I sat down, and I cried. I was convicted. Without even realizing I was doing it, I had fallen into the trap of thinking this was about me, that the harvest was my responsibility. It wasn’t. God handled that and – in the process – taught me my plans don’t amount to much, “but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.”

Though the circumstances are likely different, many of you may be in the same boat today. Perhaps your life hasn’t turned out how you would like. You’ve made all of your plans, only to watch them blow up in your face. Maybe you’ve consistently prayed for something or someone, but it doesn’t seem like God is listening.

Perhaps – like me that night in Thunder Bay – you’re trying to be obedient and follow God’s leading, but you’ve lost sight of the fact He sees much more than we ever will, and He is working His plan and purpose in our midst.

Wherever you find yourself, take heart in knowing God is in control. He sees you. He knows your hopes and dreams, fears and struggles, and He is walking alongside you, fulfilling His purpose for your life.

Written by WILL GRAHAM