Grace for the Journey

Photo by Aleksandra Sapozhnikova on Unsplash

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

— Proverbs 3:5 (KJV)

Sometimes life doesn't always go according to plan. You prayed, prepared, worked hard, and envisioned how things would unfold only to discover that the path looks completely different than you expected.

Change can be uncomfortable. Detours can be disappointing. Waiting can be exhausting. And sometimes, when things don't happen the way we planned, we begin to question ourselves, our purpose, or even whether God is still working.

But a changed plan does not mean a canceled purpose.

There have been seasons when I had to pivot, persevere, rebuild, release, and begin again. There were moments when I had to keep encouraging others while all along I needed encouragement myself.

Yet, through every season, God's grace has continued to carry me through.

This may also be your testimony.

Sometimes God changes the direction because He sees something we cannot see. We may be focused on the destination while God is concerned about what He is developing in us along the journey.

The detour may be teaching you patience.

The delay may be developing your faith.

The closed door may be protecting you.

The transition may be preparing you.

You don't have to understand every step to trust the One who orders them.

This season may be an invitation to slow down, listen, and allow God to redirect your focus. Don't allow disappointment to make you abandon your purpose. Don't allow distractions to steal your peace. And don't allow exhaustion to convince you that you are finished.

Give yourself grace.

You are allowed to adjust. You are allowed to start again. You are allowed to acknowledge that something didn't work without believing that you didn't work or that you failed.

God is still writing your story. So, breathe. Release what you cannot control. Trust God with what you cannot see. Then take the next step.

You don't need the entire roadmap. You just need enough faith to take the next step.

Questions for Reflection:

1. What area of my life isn't going according to my plan?

2. What might God be teaching me through this season?

3. What do I need to surrender instead of trying to control?

4. What distractions are keeping me from focusing on my purpose?

5. Where have I already seen God's grace carry me?