Last week, I sat in a meeting where a project I was involved in was presented. Unlike an earlier presentation, this meeting did not go well and almost every part of the plan was picked apart, as if someone was in a particularly bad mood.
My teammate and I left the meeting confused at the reaction
and frustrated with the thought of starting over, but decided to meet the next
morning to regroup.
As I drove home, I thought about how my personal plans often
seem like the best route to take, only to encounter one roadblock after
another. Although God doesn’t tell me how each step isn’t going to work, He
does slow me down and close doors where I’m not supposed to go.
It can be just as confusing and frustrating as this meeting
was. The prospect of scrapping my plans and starting over feels tiresome and
discouraging. While I want to get right to the end goal, God’s timing usually
involves waiting.
But waiting doesn’t always mean God has said no. Sometimes,
my way just isn’t what God has in mind. To wait for what He has planned, I
have to slow down and regroup, letting God lead instead of rushing ahead.
The next morning, we looked at what worked, and what needed
to be tweaked. By adding some new details and adjusting the time frame, the
project came together—looking better than it was before.
Isn’t that the way it is with God’s plans? I can choose to push
forward putting what I want into action, but if I pause and spend time in
prayer first, I’ll most likely find that God has a better way in mind.
And with
His way, I’ll have a guide—Someone to travel with.
Certainly, that’s worth slowing down my steps to see what
God has planned.
We
can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.
Proverbs 16:9 NLT
Has there been a time when you slowed down
your plans to regroup, and God showed you a better way?
In Christ,
Photo credit: Stock photo: people
I can relate to this. I am in a time in my life where I'm not exactly sure how certain things are going to come together. Waiting on that better way to present itself, and I know it will. Thanks for sharing your experience :)
ReplyDeleteDear Laura
ReplyDeleteIf I think where I was and how I have been religiously working to earn our Pappa's love and approval, I can see how He has steered my life I the best direction with my chronic illness. Only when I was at that place where I really and truly had nothing and no one to depend on, was my heart receptive to receive Jesus' life and forgiveness in all its fullness. Yes, dear one, God's ways are so much higher and noble than what we consider important. Glad you presentation is working well now.
Blessings XX
Mia
Laura, how ironic that you posted this scripture and also these words...they are meaningful to me today as I wait to see how we are going to regroup in our current situation. As for the verse, I used it for my post I wrote for our 5MFF Thanksgiving post (not posting til the 29th!). But isn't it cool how the Spirit speaks to us similar truths...thank you for hearing and heeding the still small voice faithfully. I love the points you made- and appreciate you sharing them.
ReplyDeleteYes!
ReplyDeleteLaura, a little over two years ago, my husband and I decided it was time to make a move, and we starting looking at houses up here in the mountains. It was going to be a big move, away from the suburbs where I had lived for almost 29 years. My husband and I looked and looked, and found nothing that suited us. We also realized that we had started the looking without doing the financial planning. So, we tabled everything until after the first of the year. Then we started looking again in earnest. We were very interested in a particular house, and very close to putting in an offer on it. But, something stopped us. It just didn't *feel right* - so we continued looking. At some point, God pointed us toward a house that we had looked at the previous summer. Somehow (HIS timing!), when we re-visited this place, we knew it was where God wanted us. Things went very smoothly, including getting the house at a much-reduced price. Again, HIS way in HIS time.
So yes, I know how the Lord can stop us, and then bless us in a better way. And we are all the better to trust Him, for He knows what He is doing!! :-)
GOD BLESS!
A great lesson for me to hear, Laura. I can get so set on my way as being the most efficient way to get something done, and then when interruptions come, I'm irritated. May I be more open to make my plans but let the Lord determine my steps today. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThis is good. I'm in a time of regrouping and trying to settle into what God may have in the in between! He always provides and is our comfort in these times, too. Thanks for this!
ReplyDelete