But the Lord had Other Plans…

When was the last time you had your plans all laid out perfectly…and then all your plans didn’t work out the way that you wanted them to?

This has happened to me more times than I can count.

Just recently, I found myself telling some friends that while there is a large gap in age between our two living children (they are five years apart), that wasn’t what I originally wanted…but the Lord had other plans.

And while that’s absolutely true, I would be lying if there wasn’t some pain in my heart when I said that.

Yes, the Lord had other plans, but it doesn’t mean that I haven’t grieved all the times my plans didn’t line up with his.

In the case of having a five-year gap between my son and my second daughter, I know that the reason there’s such a big gap is because of infertility and the loss of my first daughter.

Infertility and infant loss were definitely NOT in my plans.

But the Lord had other plans.

Can I just be honest and say that I don’t always like his plans? Sometimes I’ve followed where the Lord was taking me reluctantly and as the expression goes “kicking and screaming.” I haven’t wanted to follow his plans because I wanted things to go MY way.

But what the Lord has shown me over the years is that not only is he always good, but his plans are always good, too.

And not only are his plans good, but they are always better, even if in my human mind I can’t comprehend how they could be better than mine.

As Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds us,

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares 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.

I don’t have to understand his plans. But I can trust God and ask him to change my heart and shape it to be more aligned with him.

I also don’t have to like his plans. But I can press into God and ask for his joy and peace when I don’t get what I want. I can ask God to grow my faith in him so that I can truly believe that his ways will bring the most glory to him.

And as I’ve seen through the hardest seasons of my life, he has absolutely been glorified in so many beautiful ways beyond what I could have imagined.

We can always trust God, friend.

He is our good, loving, faithful Father. He is compassionate and gracious and kind. He is sovereign over everything. Nothing has escaped his reach.

I can trust him and seek him in my moments of discouragement knowing that he is right here with me, leading me through, step by step.

And friend, he’s right there with you, too.

I don’t know what kind of things have not gone according to your plan, but I want to leave you with an excerpt from an absolutely beautiful song that was released the year my first daughter was diagnosed with anencephaly.

It’s called “Thy Will” and it’s sung by Hilary Scott and The Scott Family Band. Hilary Scott wrote this song after she suffered a miscarriage, but I think these words resonate with anyone who has struggled when their plans didn’t work out the way they wanted:

I’m so confused
I know I heard you loud and clear
So, I followed through
Somehow I ended up here
I don’t wanna think
I may never understand
That my broken heart is a part of your plan
When I try to pray
All I’ve got is hurt and these four words

Thy will be done
Thy will be done
Thy will be done

I know you’re good
But this don’t feel good right now
And I know you think
Of things I could never think about
It’s hard to count it all joy
Distracted by the noise
Just trying to make sense
Of all your promises
Sometimes I gotta stop
Remember that you’re God
And I am not

Hillary Scott & The Scott Family – Thy Will (Official Video) – YouTube

Friend, if you’re going through a “But the Lord had other plans” kind of season, I hope this post has encouraged you today.

Continue to hold fast to our steadfast God. He won’t leave you to walk through this unexpected season alone.

Pressing on in faith,
Jennifer