Wednesday Read: When God's Plans Diverge From Yours

Mary had plans. As a young woman engaged to Joseph, she could envision her future - a traditional wedding, starting a family in Nazareth, living a quiet life. Then Gabriel showed up with news that would obliterate every plan she'd made: "You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus" (Luke 1:31). This wasn't a slight modification to her plans; it was a complete rewrite.

Her response is remarkable: "I am the Lord's servant. May your word to me be fulfilled" (Luke 1:38). Not "let me think about it" or "can we negotiate the timeline?" Just surrender. But notice what she didn't know when she said yes: she didn't know about the census that would force a grueling journey while nine months pregnant. She didn't know about giving birth in a stable. She didn't know about fleeing to Egypt as refugees. She didn't know about watching her son be executed. She said yes to the plan without seeing the blueprint.

We want to approach new years like project managers, creating detailed plans and executing them efficiently. We set goals, establish systems, and expect outcomes to follow our scripts. Then we're shocked, offended, or devastated when reality refuses to cooperate. Health crises, job losses, relationship breakdowns, unexpected opportunities - life rarely follows our PowerPoint presentations.

Proverbs acknowledges this tension: "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps" (Proverbs 16:9). Notice it doesn't say we shouldn't plan - it says we shouldn't assume our plans are sovereign. Plans are provisional, steps are providential. We propose; God disposes. This isn't fatalism; it's realism about who's actually running the universe.

James was more blunt: "Now listen, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.' Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow... Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that'" (James 4:13-15). The problem isn't making plans - it's the arrogance of making plans without submitting them to God's sovereignty.

This creates real tension for goal-oriented people. Should we plan or just wait for God to tell us what to do? The biblical answer seems to be both/and, not either/or. Make plans, but hold them loosely. Set goals, but submit them daily. Work diligently, but trust ultimately. Plan your course, but let God establish your steps.

What happens when God's plans diverge from yours? When the promotion doesn't come, the relationship doesn't work, the health doesn't improve, the dream doesn't materialize? You have Mary's choice: resist God's rewrite or surrender to his better story. Her yes led through stable births and refugee flights and crucifixion - and resurrection. Your yes might lead through things you wouldn't choose either. But God's divergent plans consistently prove better than our direct ones.