When You Disagree With God

Prov. 16:9 In his (her) heart, a man (woman) plans his course; but the Lord determines his steps.

I love this verse. My sister wrote it in a notebook of mine once, years ago and it fast became a favorite of mine. In fact, in the last 10 years, I’ve adopted it as one of my “life” verses.

I have plans for my life. I have dreams, wishes, and intentions of where I want my life to go. I’ve always been a dreamer and I think that’s a good thing because so many people grow cynical in life and forget what dreams are truly about.  The only problem comes when God has different intentions than the intentions I have!

I often ask God to show me where He wants me. I want to be open and willing enough to drop things when He tells me it’s time to move on. I want to be able to change my plans if He asks me to.  Sometimes that’s really hard to do. It’s tough to say “good-bye” to some of our dreams, isn’t it?”  But God reminds me of Eve and Jonah.  Eve did her own thing instead of what God asked her to do and she sinned.  God disciplined her for it. As He did with Jonah. Jonah refused to think (or trust) that God just might know what He was doing and he fled. Look what happened to him! He got thrown overboard and swallowed by a fish until he agreed to obey the Lord.

I believe with all of my heart that God wants to bless me. And I know that when my own pride gets in the way and I disobey the Lord that there will be consequences.  I think it’s okay that I disagree with God or question what His motives are – as long as I obey Him through that doubting. But if I obey, I will see the blessing that He longs to show me.

So I may have plans for my life. I may spend a lot of time on them. Dreaming. Wishing. Orchestrating details and getting them just “so.”  But no matter how much I “plan” for my life to go a certain way – God has the ultimate say. It is He, who will determine the path and steps I take.  I can fight it – but it will do no good. 

We might as well trust the One who created the universe with the minute details of our lives. Big or small – His hands are big enough to take care of them and He won’t lead us down the wrong road. He wants to bless us. All He asks is for us to obey… even if we feel we’re being led in the complete opposite direction of the one we intended to go on.  Trust Him. He won’t let you down.