When God’s Will Isn’t What You Planned or Prayed For 🌿 Faith Encouragement

An unexpected bellow cut through the stillness of a quiet Saturday morning. The loud noise startled me away from my reading on the front porch, and I looked up just in time to see a large livestock trailer rattle across the nearby two-lane road toward an unknown destination.
My eyes followed the cattle hauler until it disappeared from sight. Was the cow in pain? Was she confused, clamoring for attention, or crying out against a journey she’d been conscripted for against her will? Perhaps she was moving to a greener pasture and once the transition was complete, she’d be more than happy to accept the change.
But…I knew another alternative was possible as well. Maybe she’d soon be auctioned off to the highest bidder and her life would become the ultimate sacrifice.
Oh Friend - even though I have no idea what happened next, this experience reminded me so much of the life journey you and I take as well, especially when we are confined to a path we don’t want to explore.
When God’s will is not what we planned or prayed for, don’t we sometimes protest too? Not with a pain laden bellow from the back of a livestock trailer, but maybe from the deepest places of our collective souls.
After the truck and trailer moved out of sight on that particular morning, I noticed a carefree squirrel scampering around the yard to my left. Down the fence line, up the pecan tree, across the branches and back again. And I thought of the stark contrast between the two journeys. One filled with aimless, unfettered freedom, the other under the careful will and direction of a watchful master.
Not long ago, in reading Acts 7, where Stephen expounded on a historical account of many of the fathers in the faith, I noticed a common thread of transition and transformation. Sometimes the Lord asks hard things, and those who have gone before us also experienced a difficult journey they likely did not embrace as a willing participant.
Whether the journey is literal or metaphoric, we can all relate, can’t we? For many of us, it’s been a heavy year - and as I’ve been reflecting on the past and preparing for the future with the upcoming turn of the calendar - I’ve also wrestled with God’s will not being aligned with my own. But I know I am the one who has to change.
A dear friend and sister once wrote a song with these fitting lines in the verse and chorus: I haven’t always wanted what you planned for me, it seemed too hard for me to understand. But I am willing Lord, for You to change my heart. I find comfort and stability in her words, and I hope you do too.
When God’s will isn’t what you planned or prayed for, ask Him to change the desires of your heart. Ask Him to help you see beyond the pain into the possibilities of what His greater plan will bring about. I am going to do the same.
Going forward, I’m not sure if this channel will continue as it has, but for now, I plan to take an indefinite break for a bit to work on other projects that I hope will encourage you in the new year. I may be back in February or I may not. I’m not sure yet. But I want to thank all of you for your support and let you know how much I appreciate you. And in closing, I’d like to leave you with these words from 1 Peter 5:10:
But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, and settle you.
#faithencouragement
#understandingGodswill
#trustGodinallthings
#1peter5
#prayer
#faithjourney
#faithtransformation
#followGod
#trustGod

[@juliepageheath2553]

This is my heart as well, Misty. Thank you for giving expression to what it means to trust God's plan. Have a Merry Christmas, sweet friend!
1 Peter 5:10 and Ephesians 3:20-21🙏❤️🙌

[@livebeyondthesurface1735]

Amen, and thank you so much Julie! 🙏🏼 I’ve also been thinking about the song you sent me a while back…”When God Has Another Plan, Walk On and Just Say Yes…” 🎶💞🤗