by Charles Stanley
Intouch Ministries
Psalm 139 1-12
We all have periods in life when it seems as if God’s plan has stalled or jumped the track. Perhaps you’ve prayed a long time for something or someone, but the Lord still hasn’t answered. Or maybe you asked Him to intervene in a situation, but nothing has changed. In times like these, it’s important to remember certain truths about your heavenly Father.
Even before you were born, God predetermined what He wanted to accomplish in, through, and for you. His plans for your life are guided by His wisdom as He directs events and chooses the precise timing to help you grow as a Christian. And His love motivates and propels everything He does in your life to make you more like His Son.
But from a human perspective, the heavenly Father’s plan may seem too slow or too hard to follow. For example, a husband and wife may become disillusioned with their marriage and decide to divorce, thinking that finding a new spouse would be easier than working out their problems. Or maybe financial pressures prompt someone to be dishonest on a tax return. These shortcuts demonstrate a lack of trust in the Lord’s ways and unbelief in His sufficiency.
It doesn’t have to be this way. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can hold fast during those periods when we want to direct our own life. By relying on God’s great wisdom and loving intentions, we’ll have confidence to rest in His care. Our path may seem dark to us, but in His light, the way becomes clear. All we have to do is follow.