3 Truths about God’s Plan for You

Most people I know would like to know God’s plan for their life. They’d like to know that they’re in the center of his proverbial will. Often our peace with that truth is tied to whether we like the circumstances God has chosen for us or not. The apostle Paul’s life stands as a great reminder that God’s will for each of us should be embraced even if the circumstances are not of our choosing.

God’s plan for you will include suffering, but when it does, you won’t be alone.

Immediately following Paul’s conversion, God sent him a message through Ananias. God said, “He is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name to Gentiles and kings (Acts 9:15)…For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name” (Acts 9:16). The first part of the message sounds pretty good, but the second part? Not so much. Paul’s circumstances reveal what all of us come to know sooner or later: suffering is a part of each of our lives. Physical and emotional pain combined with societal rejection mark Paul’s life as a Christian (2 Cor. 11:23-27). Yet, his final words in 2 Timothy offer the hope. He writes, “At my first defense no one stood by me…But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me (2 Tim. 4:16-17)

God’s plan for you may include promotion, but when it does, its about his providence more than your performance.

Paul goes from a persecutor of the church, to an apostle for the church nearly overnight (2 Tim. 1:1). That’s a radical transformation for Paul to experience, and for his followers to accept (1 Cor. 11:1). Yet, through it all, Paul maintains that he is the chief of sinners. He declares, “This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all” (1 Tim. 1:15, NLT).

If we learn anything from Paul’s grace-filled teaching throughout his letters, we learn that he refuses to take the credit for any promotion God grants him. The word “providence” sounds like the word provision. God is the one who provides the time, talents, resources, and connections that bring about any promotion you experience. James declared, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (Jam. 1:17). Work hard at your craft and faithfully steward your opportunities, but never forget God is the one doing the promoting (1 Cor. 4:2).

God’s plan for you will include times of uncertainty, but when it does, God is still working.

The Bible aptly describes us as sheep; we are prone to get a little anxious when we can’t see the greener pastures. When, through Jesus, you become a God-follower, your final destination–heaven–becomes a promised certainty (John 14:6). But, the road to get there is often filled with uncertainty. “Did I make the right decision?” “Is this what God wants for me?” “Why is this so difficult?” Whom among us hasn’t pondered those questions in our day-to-day journey.

Paul started out with Silas on his second missionary journey with a passion to share the gospel. Remarkably, as they passed through Phrygia, Galatia and Asia the Spirit did not allow them to speak (Acts 16:6-10). Together, they would trek nearly 1,000 miles, before they received a visionary call to cross over the Aegean Sea, and preach the gospel in Macedonia. I wonder when the questions started gathering? “Did we hear God right?” “Why can’t we share the Gospel with those in Asia?” “How much further must we travel?” Yet, while they kept walking through those moments of uncertainty, God was still working–preparing the hearts of those in other cities. Cities to which such Biblical letters would be written as Philippians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Corinthians, and Ephesians.

While Paul’s missionary journey was filled with uncertainty, God was still working. And that’s often how he works in our lives too. We start out on the journey, while God simultaneously is providentially working in others lives preparing the way for us.

Whether this year is filled with promotion, suffering or uncertainty you can be confident that the one who planned the journey for you was never planning on you traveling alone.

PHIL MOSER is the author of the Biblical Strategies series and the developer of 4M Training: a 13-week small group study for men. All of his resources are found on amazon or at biblicalstrategies.com. Consider booking Phil for your next conference or retreat.