Churches today are packed with believers who still do not know God’s plan for their lives. How sad when we know that God speaks, God guides, God calls us all individually because He wants to do something with all of us. This is why He told us that this Bible: “Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (James 4:8). My brother, my sister, God had a plan for your life even before your parents met: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5)… and the purpose of His plans are clear: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you, and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11)… Now, in front of lives difficult equations, how do we get to discover the specific plan of God for us?
Let me give you my testimony: having passed the Baccalaureate in Paris more than 20 years ago, I wanted to study economics, but I was in the hospital and my sister enrolled me to study English. I was so angry at her that I did not speak to her for three months. Then, because there were no more room to enrol for economics, I had to continue with English, and when an opportunity came, I enrolled for economics too. So I was following two courses at the same time. After 5 years in university, with two masters degrees (1 in economics and 1 in English – by the way I got the Merit in English!), so I tried to register for a doctorate in economics, but the teacher that I had approached almost insulted me by her attitude that I turned to a professor in English literature who welcomed me with enthusiasm. From my first year in university, the Lord opened the way for me to work in the United States where my English improved, and later, I met the father of my children in Paris, an English-speaking man course. Today, I live in the UK where I serve Him with English-speakers… More than 20 years ago, I had no idea English was essential for me to be able to fulfil the plan of the Lord.
My friend, God has never intended to have robots of His children, but His initial plan is that we freely choose to listen to Him when He directs our steps, just because He created the world and no one can know how the world works without its creator. Besides, God does not call us to duplicate or imitate anyone else in this life. We are called to become all that God has destined us to be. Therefore, the believers who are still wondering about God’s plans for their lives are those who have not yet surrendered to God. Yet the truth is that we can never be truly happy or successful if we are not in God’s plan. Suppose that God created you to be a bus driver. What is wonderful with the Lord is that He always provides abundantly for all our needs when we walk in His plan. But suppose you prefer to work in education instead. Of course God will not forsake you, but you must also work harder and endure the consequences of your preference, but you will never find true peace, joy, and satisfaction because you will be trying to do something that God has never called you to do.
Another good example is single parenthood: God’s plan is that children be born in a family where there is a father and a mother. But our cultures and our inclination to sin rather than obeying God has made single parenthood a norm in our societies: how many do wait until they are married before having children? Today, sexual intimacy which God has reserved for marriage is even taught in primary schools as a normality, as long as you protect yourself from disease… yes, but what about the spiritual after-effects the sin of fornication causes? Obviously, our societies know nothing about that! However, the consequences are far greater than we can see: go around schools in the England : it seems that 3 out of 10 children have emotional or behavioral problems and sometimes disabilities… just because the plan God has set is being ignored by our lack of consideration to His Word. Yet the only way to stop all this is to return to His original plan… but people continue to live in sin rather than living according to the Word of God that reminds us of this: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12: 1-2). Well, we are the ones who have to suffer the consequences as much as we make God sad!
The key to fulfilling your God-given call is to seek the face of the Lord daily. Do not wait until you’re at a crossroads in your life where you have to make an important decision that will affect all of your future. If you wait too much, chances are that you will significantly delay receiving the rich rewards God has in store for you. You see, the Bible says, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). In other words, when God designed you, He did equip you with everything you would need to fulfill your God-given purpose on earth. He gave you the gifts and skills that He wants to help you develop over the course of your life. Now, if you ASK Him what they are, He will show you (James 1:5)… He may also direct you to get some special education or training, as was my case with me learning of English. The second thing is that you must be FAITHFUL where you are. God will not give you more opportunities or responsibilities if you aren’t faithful with what He’s already entrusted you in the smaller areas of your life (Matthew 25:21). The next stages are the most difficult: LISTEN to the Lord by your continued study of the Word and prayers. You see, God will never tell you to do something that is against His righteous character or contrary to the principles in His Word. His Word is powerful, it brings instruction, correction, training, and equipping us thoroughly “for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Trying to make decisions without consulting God or His Word is like trying to find our way through a dark tunnel without a flashlight. You should also learn to WAIT. Yes, waiting is not always easy. Sometimes more than one good choice can come to us. If you rush or you do not have the courage to follow two university courses as I did, you can move very far from the plan of God. When you are patient and keep praying, God Himself can eliminate the wrong choices from your way (thus, a professor of economics insulted me) and open the right doors (the English professor kept me going and it is with the English language that I make my living now as a teacher and translator and I worship the Lord).
Yes, my friend, if you live your life according to God’s wisdom, His plan, the daily grace He gives us will lead you to the path of His greatest blessings. The truth is that there is no just and proper way for us to improve our lives without fitting into God’s plan. So the sooner we cooperate with the Lord, the sooner we can start reaping His blessed rewards! Stay blessed in Jesus’ name.