Ep 228 Life Plans and God’s Surprises with Sue Donaldson

I’m not sure why we bother arguing with God. God being God comes with an unfair advantage but I imagine I’m not the only one who tries. There’s that Jonah fellow from Nineveh. He argued but he ended up—well you probably know where he ended up. Even Jesus who had a special connection, you might say, debated with his Father about the wisdom of what he was about to go through right before the cross. He went anyway. Alone, for the most part.

I should have known better than to argue. There’s no point. But processing out loud is my favorite and God already knew what was in my head. And, while arguing takes two and I did most of the talking, I did get an answer

At 30 I wasn’t worried about gray hair. I had a great life. I just didn’t want to grow old alone. I had a plan to love and serve God—but not by myself. Phone calls can mess up the best of plans.

YOUR TURN

1. Do you have a plan for your life? What does it include?

 

2. When your plans take a “wrong turn” in your view, how do you deal with your disappointment?

 

3. Have you ever argued with God? If not, you can try it out today. (I'll wait...)

 

 

How did that turn out for you?

If we remember He’s our perfect Father—and loves us even more than our own dads—and that he knows what’s ahead, we can relax. Instead of stewing we can wonder how He’s going to surprise us with something we would never think up on our own.

That’s one of the fun parts about following God—the surprise factor. It gets me every time.

TAKE GOD AT HIS WORD

“There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off” (Proverbs 23:18).

 

TELL GOD WHAT’S GOING ON (write your prayer or pray the one below):

 

Lord, God,

Thank you that you love me and that you are love so that you can’t betray. Help me place the truth of your character over my feelings. I surrender my plans to you. May I look to you in trust and expectation. I love surprises. Thank you and amen.