On this Christian journey, we often face situations that push us to make changes in order to build a better life. And a better life is what all of us are striving to achieve, but we don’t always know the way to it, although most of us think that we do. Keeping it real: most of us start out making decisions and choices without consulting God. We ultimately discover that His plans are often way different from what we’ve planned for ourselves. Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT) reminds us to lean on Him and seek His Will: “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” God has good plans for us. So, even when we think we have it all figured out, to truly walk in His purpose, we must surrender our plans and trust His.
I’ve seen this happen a lot, especially in the lives of single women when it comes to meeting and dating someone new. Whether it’s because of their looks, education, or financial stability, they think this man is perfect for them, that he will give them the life they desire. Well, Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT) tells us: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.” No matter our level of confidence about the man we’ve met, we must seek God’s Will and wait to hear from Him, but many single women don’t do this. They make decisions based on what they think is right for their lives without checking in with God. When we do this, big mistakes can happen.
And when those mistakes do happen, we often run from God, hiding out because we don’t want to admit that we messed up without His guidance. It’s a tough pill to swallow. And let’s be honest, a lot of times, we don’t swallow it. We spit it out without learning the lesson of patience and obedience that our mistakes can teach us. Then, many of us move on to the next relationship, carrying the same defeating habit patterns that continue to sabotage our efforts.
The prophet Jonah is a perfect example of this. God had given him an assignment to go preach to the city of Nineveh. He ran from God’s assignment, but like so many of us, he quickly learned that trying to outrun God is pointless. Psalm 139:7-10 (NLT) asks, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there.” We can’t outrun God’s presence, and we can’t outrun His purpose for us no matter how hard we try.
We all know how the story goes. Jonah tried to escape God by hopping on a ship, but God sent a powerful storm to stop him in his tracks. The sailors, realizing the storm was God’s doing because of Jonah’s disobedience, threw him overboard. But God wasn’t done with Jonah yet. He arranged for a giant fish to swallow him, and Jonah spent three days and nights in the belly of a whale. In the dark, Jonah had to face his choices and cried out to God for help. Jonah 2:1-2 (NLT) says, “Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from inside the fish. He said, ‘I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble, and He answered me. I called to You from the land of the dead, and Lord, You heard me!’”
Jonah wasn’t perfect. He was stubborn, even arrogant at times. But God never gave up on him. And He’ll never give up on us either. No matter how much we try to run or hide, God is always there. He hears our cries. He hears our prayers. As Isaiah 55:7 (NLT) says, “Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that He may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for He will forgive generously.” Arrogance makes us think we can build our lives on our own terms, but life will teach us that leaning on our own understanding leads us away from God’s blessings.
Even when we make mistakes, God’s love for us doesn’t change. Romans 8:38-39 (NLT) assures us, “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.” Our Heavenly Father loves us, and He wants the best for our lives. We can have confidence that His plan includes the hope and future He promises us, even when we falter. It’s in the moments of our mistakes and disobedience that we often learn the most about God’s patience and faithfulness. Just as Jonah’s story reminds us, no matter how far we stray, God’s love never fails, and His purpose for us remains steadfast. We are never beyond His reach, and He is always ready to help us realign with His Will.
As we walk this Christian journey, it’s crucial that we keep trusting in God’s perfect plan, even when it doesn’t look like what we thought it would. When we let go of our own understanding and turn to Him for guidance, we unlock the best life He has for us. So let’s make it a habit to bring God into every decision, knowing that His plans will always outshine anything we could dream up on our own. His love, mercy, and grace are always there, ready to help us get back on track when we mess up. So, Let’s keep walking in faith, trusting that He will lead us to the future He has promised. ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“Life Built on Your Own Terms”, written by Kim Times, edited by Rev. Fran Mack and KLizzie for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2024. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.