Watching The Plan Unfold

Watching the Plan Unfold

This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength. . . . God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. 1 Corinthians 1:25, 27

Want to make God laugh? Try making plans—your own plans. How often do you make plans, deliberately evaluating your options, praying for wisdom, and trying to figure out where God wants you? Later, of course, those plans are often sidetracked by something you didn’t see or expect, something even better than what you had planned.

I think Garth Brooks’s song “Unanswered Prayers” typifies this whole relationship with God and prayer as we plan and try to figure out what the God who created us wants us to do. As he sings, “Some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.”

So often we pray seeking a yes to something we’ve already mapped out. We have it figured out and know what we want, so we don’t spend time consulting God through the Holy Spirit. And consequently, what we find is that very often the answer is not yes, but no or not now.

When I was hired as the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, I was certain that if we coached in a way that honored God, God would reward our efforts. And I believe we did that in Tampa Bay. Our reward? We were fired.

That was not the answer to prayer I was looking for when things became tense during that last year. God’s answer obviously was different from what I thought I should be seeking and was also not an option I was aware of. I’m not sure if anyone, even God, was laughing. Instead, God was putting the finishing touches on the plans He had for me and my family in Indianapolis.

To this day, He faithfully continues to unfold His plans for me, and it’s exciting to watch.

Uncommon Key > You may not be able to see it, but God has a distinctive plan that He is unfolding for your life. Pray for wisdom and clarity to understand it, but more than anything, pray that God will continue to show you how to serve Him wherever you are.