“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

We often develop strategies, game plans, life plans—and then, at some obstacle or critical point, someone says, “Just stick to the plan!” It’s usually good advice.

Life is always sending unexpected surprises, but praise God, nothing takes Him by surprise. He’s the master planner. Our family might turn against us, our friends let us down; there may be illness, afflictions, problems and “situations” on every side but God still has a plan, for you, and for me.

Joseph is a prime example of life’s surprises. It took 13 years of endurance and character-building for him to fulfill this part of God’s plan. Sold as a slave into Egypt by his own brothers, betrayed and imprisoned, he must have wondered a lot where God was and what He was doing. But finally, as a prepared vessel, Joseph was placed in the highest position in the land, second only to Pharaoh, and commissioned to execute God’s plan for saving the world from famine.

So the Lord had surprises of His own. Revealing himself to his brothers, Joseph summed it up beautifully: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good, in order to bring it about as [it is] this day, to save many people alive.” (Genesis 50:20)

When our situations are difficult to handle and downright impossible to explain, we need to remind ourselves that God said, “I know the plans I have for you.” Through these situations, we discover how faithful and sovereign He truly is.

He knows what we can handle and He will never give us more.

When the test is completed, we come out with character, stronger in faith, more in love, more useful to Him, and ready…for our next test.

The fact that we have problems is a sign that we also have a promise. It’s only a matter of time before God reveals His good intentions. So until then, let’s stick to the plan. His!

by George Whitten