Seasons Change
I don’t know about you, but I had a lot of plans for this year that have been totally canceled because of the pandemic. When plans don’t work out because of circumstances that are ‘out of our control,’ it almost feels easier to trust God, because we can clearly see what’s keeping the plan from happening. But what happens when things don’t work out, and you don’t see any reason for it? What do we do when God closes doors that seem to be open?
The other week, I started thinking about all the things I’ve pursued in the past year that didn’t end up working out. I felt like the Lord was in each thing, but when it didn’t go how I had hoped, or didn’t go at all, I started asking God what the heck was going on. Did I not hear from Him all those times? Did these things not happen because I need to adjust some things in myself and my own heart? Why did He tell me I could go for it if the door was just going to be shut anyway?
Seasons Change But God’s Voice Doesn’t
When we feel lost and confused by the situations and season around us, the Word of God is a beautiful place to go to to get a new perspective. In my situation, the Lord has taught me a few things. I’ve learned that, if the Lord allows you to go after something and then it doesn’t end up working out, it does not mean that you heard from the Lord wrong! Our circumstances and seasons change, but God’s voice doesn’t! We put a lot of pressure on ourselves to hear from the Lord correctly and precisely when the truth is, most of the time, the Lord doesn’t yell answers at us; sometimes all we get is that gentle whisper, an inkling in our spirits, or sometimes nothing at all, about a direction. Don’t let the enemy tell you that you don’t hear from God just because you said, “yes” to something and it didn’t work out.
I’m also learning that, when I chase after something that’s from the Lord and it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t mean that there’s something wrong with me, or that I’m unworthy of those things I’m pursuing. Sometimes we do need to get before the Lord and ask Him to clean out our hearts, but He doesn’t just cancel His plans for you because you have a bad attitude for one day.
He Always Knows What He’s Doing
We will never fully understand or be able to see God’s grander plan. What we can do in those moments of defeat and confusion, is choose to trust Him. Choose to trust in His character and who you know Him to be, even when things change. In the moment where I sat before the Lord and shared how I was feeling with Him, He brought me to scriptures that talked about His promises and faithfulness. Isaiah 54:10 says, ‘“For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,” says the LORD who has mercy on you.’
I once saw a picture that said, ‘Spiritual growth happens when you start thanking God for the doors He’s opened, rather than questioning Him for the ones He’s closed.’
Today, I pray that you remember who is holding the plans, and that He always has your best in His heart. Because, let’s face it, the Lord is a way better planner than us anyway 😉