Have you ever made a great plan that, despite your best efforts, didn’t work out? I bet you have. I’m pretty sure we all have. It can be devastating when it happens. We can begin to question our “real” purpose when our good plan fails or regret wasting all the time and energy that was spent in the planning process. We can become depressed or angry, blaming others, including God, for getting in our way. What if I told you that, in fact, it just may be God who got in your way? Go ahead, be angry and yell at Him. He can take it! But afterwards, make sure you pray and listen….for His plan. Proverbs 16:9 says “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps”.
My son has always been a planner. He likes to know what, when and how anything is happening. Whenever we went to someone’s house when he was young he would want (need) to know who was going to be there, what type of food there was going to be, what we were going to do once we got there and what time we were leaving. I’m much more of a “go with the flow” type person and since I hadn’t thought to ask the host those questions myself, I usually didn’t have an answer for Kevin, to his chagrin. It made sense then, when a few years back, he had a plan for his life all laid out. He was getting ready to graduate with his Master of Education degree. Naturally, going with the flow, I was expecting him to start looking for a teaching job. He, however, had already started making a different plan. He had decided he was going to join the Navy and become a pilot. Although this was the first time his father and I had heard about it, Kevin had obviously put a lot of thought, research and time into his plan. And, I must say, it was a good one. He was both excited and ready and we were very proud of him. Shortly after that, he was accepted into Navy Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI. So far, it was going as planned. He put his life on hold while he waited on his date to report to base. What we thought would be weeks, turned into months. The wait was frustrating but he remained patient, knowing his plan was in motion. Almost a year later he received orders and reported to Newport for training.
It went well for a (very) little while. A few weeks into training his dream ended because of a medical issue. Thankfully, it was determined to be non-life threatening, but the damage had been done, however, to his military career and he was left with a lot of questions like “why me?”, “what do I’d now?”, “did I really just waste all this time?” Never mind the let down one feels when realizing something you hoped for, dreamed of and worked really hard to happen is not going to after all.
I’m not sure if Kevin yelled at God. If not, I did it for him! After the medical scare I was grateful he was physically okay, but I was heartbroken for my child. But then I prayed and listened and trusted “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps”. I do believe although it was Kevin’s plan to join the military, it wasn’t God’s. Although he would have made a fine Navy Officer, I am sure, God planned for him to be something else. It took a little while, but Kevin eventually started a new plan which so far it is going really well. He is working as a high school history teacher and is very happy. And, knowing who he is as a person, I am sure he will, if he hasn’t already, make a positive impact in his students’ lives. His father and I continue to be very proud of him. Is this what God had planned all along? I can’t be certain, but I’m pretty sure it’s at least a step in the right direction.
God has a plan for all of us. It’s hard to accept that His plan is not always the same as ours. Some times we can only make sense of it when we look back on our lives. Yes, it would save a lot of time and frustration if we could see the path laid out before us before we start on a journey. But we must trust that every twist and turn is there for a reason.
This week one of my daughters mentioned she and some friends were hoping to go away skiing sometime after the New Year and she asked what I thought. I told her it’s so hard to plan anything these days with the pandemic still going on. Everything is so unpredictable. Anything we do plan nowadays, I said, must be done so with the assumption that it may not happen. It strikes me now, as I’m writing, that this doesn’t apply only to life with Covid, but life with God. We can make all the plans we want, but it’s really God who determines the outcome. Personally, I’m ok with that because I trust Him and knows He loves me. If you are struggling with accepting that He is in control, feel free to reach out. I will try my best to help.
Love, Melissa
Thursday is Thanksgiving and one of the many things I am thankful for is YOU! Thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog and for your kind words and support. I am very grateful. This year Thanksgiving will be unlike any other for so many. If you are cooking a large meal, may I suggest offering to bring a plate to someone who may be alone? We’ll be delivering one to someone from our church family. Perhaps you have a neighbor who will be alone? Hebrews 13:16 tells us: “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”
Melissa Pillone Speaks 