This is a thought that crosses every young adult’s mind, “I know my parents will be a little disappointed.”

This thought comes on the heels of every parent laying the groundwork for the dreams “they” want in their child’s life. Whether it is going to college, better yet a specific college. Whether it is the military, a specific trade or taking on a role in the family business.

Yet that is not what the young adult is deciding to follow. The young adult’s decision is extremely opposite to what the parents dreamed of.

The young adults’ heart and mind is conflicted, but they feel a tug to go opposite to what their parents want. The parents eventually give their blessings, but not without reservation.

The parents often call the young adult to remind them it is not too late to change their mind and follow the parents’ plan.

Several years later the young adult reflects with a smile. The smile was not due to years of bliss, oh the contrary. There were amazing times, there were times of want, and there were times filled with challenges and distress. But in all of that the young adult came to realize why God redirected their steps. It was during those years when the young adult inquired about and cultivated the most important relationship of their life. A relationship with Father God through His Son Jesus Christ.

Years later, the parents of the young adult said, “we are glad you chose a different path than we expected.” The young adult smiled and said, “it helped me learn whenever God interrupts our plans, it is always for a greater purpose.”

” Many are the plans in the mind of a man,  but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand” (Proverbs 19:21).

We all have plans. Not just plans for our children but plans for ourselves. List, notes, and memos full of ideas and goals. Oftentimes these list, notes and memos can cause anxiety because we do not have enough time to pursue every plan in our heart.

There is no guarantee that our plans will come to fruition. For some, this results in a sense of failure. But what if we choose to look at our interrupted plans as a blessing?

What if God is using our interrupted plans for His greater purpose?

For example….

Abram was comfortable in Ur of the Chaldees, but God called him on a faith Journey (Genesis 12:1-3). Moses was comfortable herding sheep, but God’s people needed a deliverer (Exodus 33). Jonah was comfortable preaching in Israel, but Nineveh needed to hear from God (Jonah 1-4). Mary was comfortable living her simple life, but the angel Gabriel brought her a life altering message (Luke 1:26-38).

Some of Jesus’s disciples Andrew, Peter, James, and John were comfortable being fisherman, but Jesus saw another purpose for their lives that would spread the gospel to all nations (Matthew 4:18-22). And, Saul went from comfortably persecuting Christians to faithfully  following God and becoming a church planter (Acts 9:1-31), wow talk about an interrupted plan.

Every parent wants to believe they alone, know what is best for their children—me included. God drastically interrupted “my” thoughts and plans. And you know what, I am sooo glad they were!

Interrupted plans are often pathways to God’s greater purpose. When we focus on God’s plans it frees us from the pressures associated with focusing on our plans, it releases the urge to try to “make something” and minimize the frustration when we realize we cannot “make it happen.”

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for the thoughts, ideas and plans You have placed in my heart and mind. I pray for wisdom to discern when my thoughts ideas and plans try to override Your will for my life. I pray for increased faith to hear the voice of the Holy Spirt so I will be able to accept Your plans so that Your greater purpose will prevail. Thank You for Your patience with me, and Your peace You grant me in all situations. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

PEARLStoPONDER: Do you get upset when your plans go awry? There are times when I have. Until one day the Holy Spirt convicted me. Now…my first thought is God you must be doing sonneting.

Isaiah 55:8-9--For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways    and my thoughts than your thoughts.