"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For 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
Even in our disappointment and pain, God's plans are greater than our own.
When we engage children in conversation one of the first things we ask them is "What do you want to be when you grow up?" We're curious about their plans, life interests, and goals. While we understand those plans can change often (sometimes daily!), asking a child about their future profession can be fun.
As we age, sometimes we continue the "guessing mentality" as far as our future plans. We consider what we're interested in, our own goals, and our life's aspirations. But many times, we fail to look to God and consider His plans for our lives. What does God want us to be when we "grow up"?
God doesn't always plan our lives how we'd plan them. We might dream of a loving marriage, financial stability, a well-paying and interesting job, time to travel, and all our life goals to come true. But more often than not, our lives don't pan out how we had them planned.
While we may not always get what we want, remember that God's plans are so much better than our own plans. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."
To read an example of God's plans trumping a person's plans, consider the story of Jairus and his sick daughter in Mark 5:22-23, "And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live." Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, was of the religious sect that denied Christ's deity, yet when his daughter was sick beyond conventional treatment, he approached Christ for help.
Jesus didn't agree to heal Jairus' daughter, but followed him to his home. I'm sure Jairus was trying to hurry Jesus along before his daughter died, but a crowd of people surrounded them. Then a woman with medical issues stopped Jesus by touching His garment. Imagine being in Jairus' position. His daughter was on the verge of death, he had sought help from someone he was supposed to deny, people were keeping Christ from healing his daughter, and then he received word that his daughter had died. Things weren't going as he had planned.
Yet above Jairus' plans was God's glorification. Jesus knew exactly what He was doing, despite Jairus' disappointment and hurt. Jesus continued to Jairus' home and brought his daughter back from the dead. Christ was glorified more in raising her from the dead rather than simply healing her. His plan was best.
Has God changed your ideal life plans? Has He thrown a curveball or two into your life? Perhaps a medical report, wayward child, financial dilemma, or unforeseen accident has left you questioning the future. Remember that God's still in control.
Rather than fearing the future or turning from God, continue with Him as Jairus did, and know that His will is better than anything you could imagine. Trust Him when He tells you, "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways...so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."