Trust His Plan

By: Grace Metzger

 For I know the plans I have for you”
—this is the Lord’s declaration—“plans
for your well-being, not for disaster,
to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11 CSB

When I was a little girl that verse was spoken over me more times than I can count. My parents taught me this verse to remind me that God still had a plan for my life despite the pain I had to go through. I loved this verse and have had it memorized for as long as I can remember. However I don’t believe I ever truly took this verse to my heart. I didn’t realize that memorizing a verse is very different then believing and living a verse out.

Because I didn’t truly believe in this verse when tough times came, I was quick to become overwhelmed and disappointed in my situation. I would get confused on why God was allowing this to happen. This also caused anger and disappointment in myself for having these emotions. Being angry at God or being disappointed in Him is not something that is often talked about in Christian communities. I felt I was the worst person ever for feeling like this towards God. But despite feeling like this, I didn’t know how I could begin trusting in God while I was going through these hard times.

Then I remember the story of Moses, more specifically, the part when he was still a little baby. Before his mother gave birth to Moses, the Pharaoh decreed for all baby boys to be killed. Moses' mother was able hid and protect him for three months but sadly, she was unable to protect her baby any longer. Because of this, she was forced to place her baby in a basket and let him float away. Place yourself in this mother’s shoes for a second, imagine the fear she must have had not only while pregnant but after she gave birth as well. She knew her baby’s life was in danger and she was helpless to protect him. If I was in her place I would have been angry and heartbroken having to go through this. I probably would have been yelling and screaming at God asking how He could allow me to go through this.

If you’ve read the story of Moses you know that this is not the end of his story, but simply the beginning. Moses went on to do many great things in God’s name; freeing the Israelites, receiving the Ten Commandments, and many more. Despite everything he went through in his younger years God used him and gave him a wonderful life. Moses was given a wonderful testimony.

So what does this story show us? Well God didn’t only do this for Moses. God is still using us just like this! Like we read earlier in Jeremiah, God has a plan for our life. This plan is to prosper us not to harm us. A plan to give us hope and a future! We know that even if we are in a dark moment right now, God is still in control and His plans for us are good.

For His anger lasts only a moment,
but His favor, a lifetime.
Weeping may stay overnight,
but there is joy in the morning.
Psalm 30:5 CSB

Our situations may be hard right now. But we can take heart that joy is coming! When I am having a hard time trusting in God’s, plan I open my Bible to that verse. Our problems aren’t going to last forever, but God and His love will. This verse is a great reminder that God’s plan for our life isn’t the weeping and mourning but rather the joy and hope.

My encouragement this week is whenever you are having trouble trusting that God’s plan for your life is good, read Psalms 30:5. Read it over, and over, and over again until you are able to take it to heart, even if that means reading it 50 times. Meditate on this verse and pray that God helps you trust in His plan.

Discussion questions:
1.  Has there been a time in you life where you’ve had trouble trusting in God’s plan for you?
2. What verse help you when you’re struggling with trusting His plan?