The Perfect Plan

In my family, one person’s plan was another person’s chance to tweak that plan. Almost inevitably during a family get-together, one family member would propose an outing or activity and as soon as it emerged from her/her mouth, someone else would immediately think of a different way to do that or an easier way to travel to the destination, etc. (Since I was the “in-law” I just sat back and grinned to myself.)

Actually, I like to make plans, mapping out a course, in order to feel like I am somewhat in control of my day or a situation or a project. I’ve read that if we fail to plan, we plan to fail. In some aspects this is true but when your life’s plan falls to pieces, what then?

In the Bible, Jeremiah, an OT prophet, tells his fellow Israelites what God has revealed to him. A lot of it is pretty unpleasant because Israel, on the whole, had been disobedient to God, worshiping idols, etc. But in chapter 29, Jeremiah shares a huge hope that God showed him (and it’s a promise that will continue for mankind as long as we inhabit Planet Earth).

Jeremiah 29:11 reads, “I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

What an amazing promise—and it’s true for everyone who loves God. My fascination with this promise is the way God’s plan for family members/close friends /acquaintances, etc. must needs intersect. I’m thinking specifically of the particular piece of life’s journey my husband and I are living through right now as we deal with his cancer.

Somehow, God, in His all-knowing wisdom, is able to work out this perfect plan for each of His children without making a mistake anywhere along the way. I remember reading somewhere about how all of our lives are woven together in such a way that we, in our finite minds can only see the knots and wrong turns and re-tracings. Yet at life’s end, the “right side” of our lives reveal a beautiful mosaic—a work of art only God could have handcrafted.

So, when my plans go awry, I need to remember that God, my Strength and my Redeemer, knows what is just right for me. All I need to do is trust Him and walk with Him in the moments of life, not worrying about the hours and the days. After all, there's no point in trying to out-plan the Perfect Planner.