Trusting God's Plan

Trusting God's Plan

"He called for a famine on the land of Canaan, cutting off its food supply. Then he sent someone to Egypt ahead of them—Joseph, who was sold as a slave. They bruised his feet with fetters and placed his neck in an iron collar. Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph's character." Psalm 105:16-19 NLT We often begin Joseph's story with him telling his dreams to his brothers and being rejected by them. But the retelling of the story in Psalm 105 reveals a new twist. In an everlasting covenant, God confirmed that He had given the land of Canaan to Israel as their inheritance. Then in verse nineteen, He reveals that He is going to send a famine on the land. Their food supply will be cut off, and they will have to go to Egypt to survive. However, He would send someone to Egypt ahead of them. When God gave Joseph his strange dreams, the plan was already in place for what he would suffer. Joseph had no idea what awaited him. God knew that He was not ready for the task for which he was being called. It would be years before he would see his dreams fulfilled. During those years, the Lord was testing his character, preparing him. Everything he went through made him stronger and wiser. Joseph kept his integrity throughout all the trials he faced. Whatever position he found himself in, he did his absolute best. Submitting to authority, he found ways to help others, without knowing what his future held. In time, "Pharaoh sent for him and set him free; the ruler of the nation opened his prison door" Psalm 105:20 Think about it. Before we were born, God already had a plan and a purpose for our lives. We may not understand all the things we have faced in life. God had in place the people and the circumstances that would shape our lives. Instances that we might have perceived as harsh or undeserved were the Lord's ways of building our character and preparing us for the tasks He wanted us to fulfill. If the Lord has given you a dream or a vision, He has a set time for it to come to fruition. Draw close to the Lord, study His Word, and wait patiently for His perfect timing. Thought For Today: "Though the mills of God grind slowly, yet they grind exceeding small; Though with patience He stands waiting, with exactness grinds He all." Friedrich von Logau Devotion by: Anne Johnston

One Day At A Time One Bite at a Time

"Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." Psalm 90:12 I can barely believe how quickly time passes. It feels like one year ends and another begins before we have a chance to catch our breath. Looking back, many of us can probably identify goals we never reached, projects we never finished, and dreams that seem farther away than we expected. We put so many expectations on ourselves. We imagine that growth should happen quickly, healing should come easily, and success should arrive sooner than it does. When life doesn't unfold according to our timeline, frustration often follows. I am writing this to remind you of something simple but important: Good things take time—often much more time than we anticipated. And that's okay. Whenever I feel overwhelmed, my mom asks me a question that immediately puts things into perspective. She asks, "How do you eat an elephant?" I sheepishly respond, "One bite at a time, Mom." Maybe you have an elephant-sized goal standing in front of you. Perhaps you're staring at a project that feels impossible to complete. Maybe your workload is heavy, the responsibilities of your home are exhausting, and raising your children has left you physically and emotionally drained. Sometimes the pressure becomes even greater when we compare our lives to the carefully curated highlight reels we see on social media. Comparison is a trap. It convinces us that everyone else is further ahead, accomplishing more, and doing better than we are. When I find myself slipping into that mindset, I have to step away and remind myself of what God has actually asked of me. He hasn't asked me to conquer tomorrow, He has asked me to be faithful today. One of my constant prayers is, "Lord, teach me to take one day at a time." God rarely gives us dreams in full bloom. He plants seeds. Then, through patience, faithfulness, and time, He causes them to grow. Psalm 90 teaches us to number our days. Wisdom is not found in obsessing over years we haven't lived yet. Wisdom is found in stewarding the day God has placed in front of us. So today, stop criticizing yourself for how far you still have to go. Instead, thank God for how far He has already brought you. Celebrate the small victories and rejoice in the progress you have made. Today, trust Him with the parts of your story that are still unfolding. Just keep taking the next step… one bite at a time… one day at a time.

Trusting The Next Move The Detriment of "What If" God Is a Master Strategist

"The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way." Psalm 37:23, KJV. Growing up, my dad taught me how to play chess. I'm still an amateur, but I loved spending time with him, so I would sit across the board for hours knowing I had little chance of winning. No matter how many moves ahead I tried to think, he was always several steps ahead of me. Our relationship with God is much the same. We often map out our future with personal goals, timelines, and carefully crafted plans. Yet God's purpose for our lives extends far beyond anything we could imagine. While we see only the next move, He sees the entire board. We journey through life one step at a time, but God stands outside of time altogether. He knows the end from the beginning. His wisdom is incomparable to ours. He sees where every decision leads and understands whether the path before us will strengthen or hinder our spiritual growth. This is why He sometimes asks us to step out in faith, change direction, wait patiently, or accept an answer we do not understand. Have you ever found yourself asking, "Why, God?" or "What are You trying to accomplish through this situation?" If we're honest, many of us desire God's will until we begin to consider the possible cost. What if the path is lonely? What if it involves disappointment? What if it leads through a season of pain? The enemy often uses "what if" to create doubt where God is calling for faith. Those two simple words can become barriers that keep us from embracing God's perfect plan. While fear imagines every possible negative outcome, faith chooses to trust the One who already knows the outcome. My flesh often hesitates when God nudges me toward unfamiliar territory, but my spirit quietly reminds me, Trust Him. He knows what He's doing. One thing is certain: God desires to lead His children. Even when we make mistakes, take wrong turns, or move a piece we shouldn't have moved, He is not caught off guard. Our God is a Master Strategist. He knows how to redeem our failures, redirect our steps, and guide us toward His purpose. When you cannot see beyond your next move, remember that God already sees the endgame. He is working with wisdom, precision, and love. Your responsibility is not to know every move ahead, it is simply to trust the One who does.

Little By Little RELEASING A "HERE AND NOW" ATTITUDE

"But I will not drive them out in a single year … little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land." Exodus 23:29-30, NIV. These verses may not make many people's list of favorite Bible promises, but when I read them recently, the phrase "little by little" seemed to leap off the page. God promised Israel a land flowing with abundance. He assured them that He would provide for them and fulfill every promise He had spoken. Yet tucked within that promise was a detail they may not have expected: they would not receive it all at once. God would give it to them little by little. Imagine hearing that after forty years in the wilderness. "Little by little? Lord, we've already waited so long!" Yet God knew that receiving the promise gradually was actually an act of mercy. The land would be given as they grew strong enough to possess it. God's timing was not punishment—it was preparation. Living in a culture of instant results can make waiting difficult. We want answers now, breakthroughs now, healing now, and fulfilled promises now. We often assume that if God is moving, everything should happen immediately. But what if we could see five years into the future? Would it encourage us, or would it overwhelm us? If I had known some of the trials I would face years ago, I might never have taken certain steps of faith. I may have avoided moving, traveling, pursuing graduate school, or even marrying the man I prayed for because I would have been afraid of the pain that accompanied those blessings. In trying to avoid hardship, I would have missed some of God's greatest gifts. The truth is that God often unfolds His plans one step at a time. He reveals what we need when we need it. He strengthens us for today's challenges before entrusting us with tomorrow's responsibilities. If something in your life seems delayed, don't mistake God's pace for God's absence. The same God who made the promise is faithfully working behind the scenes. He knows what you need, what you can carry, and when you are ready for the next step. So when impatience begins to rise and your heart longs for the "here and now," remember that God is still moving, still preparing, and still fulfilling His word. And He may be doing it little by little.

The Valley After Victory Wrong ways to deal with the lows: Right ways to deal with the lows:

"But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers." 1 Kings 19:4 Elijah prayed this desperate prayer after one of the greatest victories of his life. He had called fire down from heaven to consume a water-soaked sacrifice. He had witnessed God publicly prove His power before an entire nation. He had defeated hundreds of false prophets and prophesied the end of a devastating drought. Yet only a short time later, the same prophet who stood boldly on Mount Carmel sat alone beneath a juniper tree asking God to take his life. How could someone experience such a spiritual high and then fall into such a deep low? The answer is simple: spiritual victories do not exempt us from human struggles. Many of us know what it feels like to have a powerful Sunday service. We worship with passion, pray with faith, and leave church encouraged. We feel strong and victorious. Then Monday morning arrives. The bills are still due. Family challenges remain. Ministry pressures return. Temptations resurface. The mountain-top experience gives way to the reality of everyday life. Elijah's story reminds us that what we do in our low moments matters. 1. Isolation – Elijah went into the wilderness alone. 2. No Movement – He sits down by a tree. His movement is stalled. He becomes comfortable in his depression. 3. Attitude – "Let me die." Discouragement was his companion. Sometimes the ups and downs of your day can wreak havoc on your life. As Christians, we shouldn't base our walk with God on the public victories. 1. Socialize – Go out for coffee with a friend, invite people over, or go to a group Bible study. 2. Move Around – Go to the store, attend church, turn worship music on, and dance before the Lord. 3. Speak Faith – Encourage yourself in the Lord. Declare promises from the Word of God. Dismiss untruths from your mind. The beautiful part of Elijah's story is that God did not abandon him beneath the juniper tree. God met him there. He provided rest, nourishment, and direction for the journey ahead. God has a plan for you during the low times. And, just because you are not where you want to be, doesn't mean you are outside of the will of God. Continue to preserver and seek God's will.