Whose Plan Is It Anyway?

Summer holidays for my children has just begun. I can still remember the exciting plans, which we often talked about with intense eagerness and enthusiasms, few weeks before it finally arrived.

We were busy with their assignments and preparations for upcoming assessment in their own classes once the school reopened. Since we’re joining a school we have to abide by their planners and regulations too. So we make plans together, or things to do, during their summer holidays.

First, we’d attend the wedding ceremony of our relatives. Second, we’d visit certain number of our family friends who also visited us often. Third, we’d work on some songs of mine checking whether it fits for making their firsthand track.

Fourth, we’d visit some recreational parks or museums. And fifth, we’d watch the Incredibles 2, which is a 3D computer-animated superhero film and a sequel to The Incredibles, produced by Pixar Animation Studios. And many more plans…. So, we’re super-excited!

I’m not writing a complete report as to how we spent the month-long holiday. But let’s check out few of them.

Deviation from Our Plan:

None of the plans were fulfilled except for the fifth one. And that too, I had to wait outside premise during the show time leaving my children almost uncomfortable.

In the first week of my children’s summer holiday, I was rushed to the ER. It was an unpleasant experience, I would say, as my child had witnessed or seen what I had gone through at home or in the hospital.

There are times my caring children, aged just six and three, try walking my frail body to the washroom. They’d hold my hand in the fear that I may fall, as I sluggishly head towards the door. This unwanted and unexpected episode had affected our plans.

In my weakness, rehabilitating at home, we are unable to get out of home for most of the time. It is easy to say things more than get done, for we do not know what tomorrow holds.

When our situation gets improved, we tell stories of the ‘Faithful men of God’ as recorded in the Bible. Many life’s lessons were learned by us in the process. In the meantime, when my body feels uncomfortable my children prayed for me and allowed me to take rest, until we were able to finish the stories.

We even travelled back to my childhood days, as demanded by my children. Number of decades had gone by since a bunch of skinny boys, mostly underfed, wanted to be grownups.

My Plan or God’s Purpose:

The Bible says, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart; but it is the Lord’s purpose that will prevail.” (Proverbs 19:21) I feel blessed to have given the free will of planning my life, my activities, and beyond. But it is the will of God that will prevail.

At least for a month in my life, I cannot fulfill the plan which we laid for me and my family. We opted out for hospital stay, as it’s been a while I’ve been doing well health-wise. So, we opted for a fun-filled summer holidays for our family and certain people around us.

Once again it is a good reminder for me, who easily rely on my meager capability and pride attitude before the Lord, that the purpose of God is always superior. In no way, I should be the one who’s complaining but relying and thanking him for every circumstances of my life.

In many ways, we struggled in accepting and understanding God’s plan. If you are also one among them, like me, let’s read these verses together:
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, “declares the Lord. (And it simply doesn’t end there) “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9 with my emphasis added)

How to Establish our Plans: (Proverbs 16)

Although I’m not good at it, I very much wanted to establish plans for my future. I, once and even now, have a plan but some of them simply did not work out, leading me in inane situations. The reasons may be many, attributing to my failure, but it is time to move on.

We have plans, we do have plans, and that’s what I wanted reiterated here again. A person without plans is like a boat on the sea without crew men. The boat will capsized and get lost in the vastness of the sea.

Now, the Bible taught us the right way of establishing plans:
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” (Prov. 16:3) We must acknowledge the Lord in everything you do. Remember a smooth sailing life alone is not successful life, but if our plans are established with God we find comfort in the unlikely situations of life too.

“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” (Prov. 16:9) It’s crystal clear now that it is always better to build or rebuild connections with the One who establishes our steps.

The Surprise Package – Whose Plan is it Anyway?

There was something we did which did not feature in our plan. And I believe it was there in the list, Who had planned our ways. “For 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.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

In the midst of our pitfall, we have this urge to spend time in the court of God. We noted down the points as we discuss and analyze our situations.

With those notes, we headed for our church which is 22 kilometers from our place. It is the first time we, as a family and only our family, spent such time in the courts of God. We give thanks, prayed, and sing: letting out our gratitude in His courts.

Our family kneeled before the Lord for me, the husband and Daddy, to get well soon if it’s in the will of God. We asked for forgiveness, seeking guidance, and asking his protection for the small investments we made, and especially for our children, in the near and far future for our family.

It was worthy spending every minute of it in the courts of the Lord: Our spirits lifted and our burdens lighten. This was one of the results of the troubled life we been through. It was the first time for us spending family time alone in prayer house except for the daily prayer we lead at home.

All this comes from the Lord Almighty, whose plan is wonderful, whose wisdom is magnificent. (Isaiah 28:29) It is the plan of God for our betterment!

God’s Eternal Plan:

Well, without touching a bit of the biggest plan I do not want to end talking about plans. God had intended us to have eternal life; bringing us back to eternal life from the fallen world.

He wanted no one should perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16) He who believes in Him will have eternal life. Believing is living; living is non-perishing but in the realm of the eternal plan of God.

“Father, I desire that they also whom you gave me may be with e where I am, that they may behold my glory which you have given me; for you loved me before the foundation of the world,” prayed Jesus Christ for our sake. (John 17:24)

Knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things, like silver or gold, from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. For, He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you. (1 Pet. 1:18-20)

The Rewarding Plan:

Needless to say, it is a hard to work out a plan which will sustain this short living here on earth. It’s tougher more for me to make financial plans than before, as it takes more of brain-stretching. But I have hope that everything would be normal once again.

We wanted big houses, big cars, good position in society, bulging or at least average balance sheet. These are the measurement of today’s successes stories, which I’d lacked as of today. However, success’s stories and privileged living could be another way round too.

Please remember I am not discouraging making plans or setting goals but reminding you to acknowledge God in our plans and thank Him for His eternal plan. In the end, in order that we can make a rewarding plan in our lives we should commit ourselves to our God; acknowledging him in everything we’d planned.

The rewarding plan is the plan which acknowledges the Lord. Here I joined the Psalmist as he wrote, “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.” (Psalms 148:3)

Let me end herewith Psalms 20:4,

May He give you the desire of your heart, and make all your plans succeed!