By Kate Sali
Life has a way of interrupting our carefully drawn plans. We map out our futures with confidence—education, career, marriage, ministry, business—only to encounter detours we did not anticipate. A door closes unexpectedly, a dream delays, a loss reshapes everything. In those moments, the deepest question is not what now? but can I still trust God?
Scripture reminds us that change in plans is not a surprise to God. “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). This verse is often quoted when things are going well, yet it carries even greater power when life takes an unexpected turn. God’s plans are not cancelled by our disruptions; they often unfold through them.
A helpful real-life analogy is that of a journey using a navigation app. You set out with a clear route in mind, confident you will arrive on time. Suddenly, traffic builds up or a road is closed. The app recalculates and announces, “Route changed.” Though the destination remains the same, the path is different. In the same way, God recalculates our routes—not because He is confused, but because He sees obstacles and opportunities we cannot. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5–6).
The Bible is filled with people whose plans changed dramatically. Joseph dreamed of leadership and greatness, but his path took him through betrayal, slavery, and prison (Genesis 37–50). From a human perspective, Joseph’s life looked like a series of devastating detours. Yet later he could say to his brothers, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done” (Genesis 50:20). God did not abandon Joseph in the detours; He developed him there.
Similarly, many of us can relate to seasons where life feels “paused.” Perhaps you trained for a certain profession but ended up in a different field. Perhaps a relationship you hoped would last ended abruptly. Or maybe a long-awaited breakthrough has not come. These moments test our faith because they challenge our timelines. Yet God operates outside time. “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens” (Ecclesiastes 3:1).
Consider the analogy of a potter and clay. The clay does not choose the shape it becomes; it yields to the potter’s hands. Sometimes the potter presses, reshapes, or even starts again. The prophet Jeremiah observed this and heard the Lord say, “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand” (Jeremiah 18:6). When our plans collapse, it may feel like being crushed, but in God’s hands, it is often preparation for a better form.
Trusting God when plans change also requires surrender. Jesus Himself modeled this in the Garden of Gethsemane. Facing the cross, He prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). Even the Son of God experienced a moment where the path was painful and undesired, yet He trusted the Father’s greater purpose. Our changed plans may not involve a cross, but they do involve obedience and faith.
In real life, a farmer understands this principle well. He prepares the land, plants the seed, and expects rain at a certain time. But weather patterns change. Droughts or storms may delay the harvest. Still, the farmer does not abandon the field. He adapts, waits, and continues tending the soil, trusting that harvest will come in its season. Likewise, when God’s timing differs from ours, we are called to remain faithful in what He has placed in our hands today. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).
Trust does not mean pretending disappointment does not exist. The Psalms show us that God welcomes honest emotion. “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?” (Psalm 13:1). Yet lament often turns into praise because trust is built through remembering God’s faithfulness. Looking back, many of us can testify that what once felt like a setback became a setup for growth, character, or a new calling.
When the plan changes, God invites us to shift our focus—from controlling outcomes to deepening relationship. “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
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