God has a plan. Can I both question that and shout it from the rooftops at the same time? (I might need to clarify that I question the common use of that statement; I do not question that God has a plan.) I’ve been hearing this phrase a lot lately, and it has given me an opportunity to really think on it.
Generally speaking, I think I know what is meant when someone says that. When spoken by a Christ-follower, I understand that the intent is good—to recognize God working and perhaps offer some reassurance, even in the most difficult circumstances. Maybe it is said with a nod toward trust, but if I’m being transparent, it can hit like a slap in the face when your world feels like “the earth gives way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.”
But I wonder if sometimes we confuse our painful circumstances with God’s plan. When the tornado hits your home, when an innocent accident brings lifelong rehab, when a heart stops beating far too soon—what does it mean to say that God has a plan?
When the story told about us is wrong, when the nights are far too long, when the heart aches for yesterday, what does it mean to say that God has a plan?
God’s plan in all of those things—and in the million left unnamed—is to keep walking with Him. He directs our steps, but that’s not the same as orchestrating every hardship. Stay on course, know His presence is with you, and do the next right thing.
When our lives feel like they’re falling apart, perhaps a better assessment is to say that the Enemy has a plan.Let’s give credit where credit is due.
The loneliness and despair, the chaos and confusion, the deceit and rebellion that enter our lives—their source is the Evil One. He is active, moving, and seeking to devour his prey. It’s an ugly picture, for sure. But his power is real and should not be dismissed.
Thankfully, God is even more powerful. So choose well. Don’t squander your choice on the weaker option. Partner with God. It’s where our freedom to choose meets its best possible outcome.
Admittedly, there is mystery in how God works. There are nuances to His work in our lives that I will never fully understand. But what I do know for sure is that God’s plan for me, and for you, is to do the next right thing.
When the journey ahead is long and unclear, God’s plan for you is to do the next right thing. When the weariness of each step feels too heavy, God’s plan for you is to do the next right thing.
When the overwhelming waves of grief come—whether from dreams that never materialized, stolen celebrations that never happened, or the unimaginable loss of your person—the weight feels unbearable. And yet, God’s plan for you, my sweet friend, is to do the next right thing.
Through your tears, through your pain, through your anger, and through your shame, God’s plan for you is to do the next right thing.
Regardless of what stones are being thrown at us, no matter the darkness that dims our path, despite the effort each step requires, God’s plan for you is to keep doing the next right thing. Because right always wins. That’s not just God’s plan; it’s His promise.
Because of that promise, we can stand confidently, safely resting in His ability to work all things together for His good. All the poor choices, all the heartache, all the pain, all the grief, all the gut-wrenching things we endure while earth side —He has the power to redeem. And that, my dear friend, is God’s plan. Without question or hesitation, God’s plan is to redeem our stories, one right next step at a time.
To those in the trenches right now, let’s encourage each other to keep doing the next right thing, because that, I am certain, is God’s plan for each and every one of us.
