When it all falls apart...

Hold to His promises

Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV)

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Sometimes, things in life don’t turn out the way we thought they were going to.

We prayed and prayed. We were sure we had God’s favor on what we were doing. We were sure we were following the course of action and going in the direction we thought He was leading us.

And then it all falls apart.

• The long dreamed about vacation home is wiped out by a storm.

• The retirement that was planned is cut short by illness.

• The house, almost finished, burns to the ground.

• The perfect relationship falls apart.

• The dream job is terminated.  

• The bank calls the loan.

• The business fails.

• The child dies.

• You go broke.

We’re sad, lost, dismayed, confused.

What happened, God? I thought I was being an obedient servant, working the plan that You laid out and had Your approval. I was sure You had my back. I consulted with You every step of the way, and then things blew up in my face.

God, where are You?

Why did this happen?

Did I hear You incorrectly?

Did You not say what I thought You said?

Did I misinterpret the plan? Did I miss a step?

As you cry out to God, remember He hears you, even if He doesn’t answer in a way you can hear, even if He doesn’t respond anywhere close to the timeline you were hoping for...or needed. We don’t always know what God is trying to show us or how He will use the pain we are experiencing, but the key is to Trust the Plan—His plan.

Lessons Learned

When Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, it was 20 years before God’s plan came full circle, and Joseph finally understood why God had allowed two decades of hardship to come upon him.

After interpreting his disturbing dreams, Pharaoh promoted Joseph to second-in-command in all of Egypt so that he could take charge of preparations for the coming famine. When Jacob, his father, died, Joseph and all the brothers transported his body out of Egypt to be buried in the family tomb in the land of Canaan. The brothers thought that without the father’s protective hand, Joseph would hold a grudge for what they had done to him. They thought Joseph would punish them, and maybe even kill them. When Joseph heard their concerns, he broke into tears and said, “As far as you're concerned, you were planning evil against me, but God intended it for good, planning to bring about the present result so that many people would be preserved alive.”

Trust the Plan

It will only be in retrospect that we can see why our hearts were broken, why our life savings were decimated, why our lives slammed into a brick wall. Even though you may not see or feel it at the moment, remember that God has a plan for each of us.

Here are a few promises to stand on. Say them over and over, until you really mean it.

2 Peter 3:9 (ESV)

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NASB)

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Psalm 33:11 (NIV)

The plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations.

Psalm 37:4-5 (NIV)

Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act.

Psalm 34:18 (ESV)

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

There are many more; do some homework. See how many promises you can find in God’s Word to stand on, no matter what it is that your eyes see. I like to use this site. Put a word in the search and see what comes back. https://www.openbible.info/topics

Today’s prayer

Dear Abba Father, we trust what Your Word says about You being near to Your children. But like any relationship, during tumultuous and uncertain times, we need to hear from those we love - You - bigger, louder, and more clearly than at times of good and plenty. Please show us Your plan for our lives so that we may stay the course to spiritual victory, not matter the result of our earthly situations. No matter the circumstance, we worship You, thank You, and praise You for our blessings, no matter how small. Help us to see Your hand in all things. In Jesus’ precious name. Amen.

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