Proverbs 16:25 says, “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. We only have a limited source of knowledge, but God’s knowledge is complete and infinite. He gives us freedom to plan, but He is the ultimate one who directs our steps. God wants us all to reach the plan of life He has for us. He loves His creation, and He wants the best for us. I love what the end of the verse in Ephesians 1:4-5 says. ” In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will.” This is an amazing truth for us. “In love, He predestined us, “according to His kind intentions.” God is always good, and so are His intentions towards us.  He has a great plan for us.

However, the sin nature in mankind causes us to experience the pains of this life for the most part. God will use the difficulties and tragedies in our lives to conform us to Himself and for His glory. When Adam and Eve fell to the devil’s deception in the garden, God was not in any way surprised at what happened. He did not decide at that point that He would have to create a new plan of salvation for mankind. God set the plan in motion before He even created the world. God would work within creation to show Himself faithful and to allow us to experience His unconditional love.  From Genesis to Revelation, God walks us through the process of restoring man to Himself.  He uses ordinary people just like us in each part of His plan. There is always someone available to be used by God. The Scriptures teach us in 2 Chronicles 16:9, “For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. You have acted foolishly in this. Indeed, from now on, you will surely have wars.”  God seeks out the person who desires to follow His good plan. God will navigate the path of our lives so that we can accomplish the purpose that He ordained for our lives.

Creating our own way never ends well, and it did not end well for Abraham and Sarah when she persuaded him to use her concubine, Hagar, to bring forth the child God promised. God knew how and when the child would be born. He had reasons for wanting the child to come through Abraham and Sarah. Abraham learned soon the consequences of straying from trusting and waiting on God.  Throughout the book of Genesis, we see the effects of Abraham’s disobedience on the children of Israel. However, this did not destroy the ultimate plan that God had for His people.  In Isaiah 55:11, God makes it very clear that what He ordains will come to pass.  “So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” In the final chapters of Genesis, God will use Joseph to play a major role in His plan to bring His children into the Promised Land.  Joseph faced some very painful situations throughout His life, and his story is a beautiful reflection of trusting God in hard circumstances. Joseph knew that God had a greater plan for him and for his people, and in Genesis 50:19-21, after forgiving his brothers for all they had done, he responded with these words, “But Joseph said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.”

Again, we see that when God has a plan, no one can stop it, and even though the devil comes in and does evil, God can use the evil that we experience for good. I love how Joshua comforted the children of Israel after finally settling in the land God promised to give them through His covenant with Abraham. At the end of his life gave a beautiful word of encouragement to the people, which we, today, can still have confidence in. In Joshua 23:14 it says, “Now behold, today I am going the way of all the earth, and you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one word of all the good words which the Lord your God spoke concerning you has failed; all have been fulfilled for you, not one of them has failed.” I love this, and I hope it encourages you, too, to wait on the Lord, as He guides you through the plan He has for your life. Stay prayed up as you wait on the Lord. Psalm 37:5, “Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.” Be Blessed!