Even if my plan doesn’t work
“But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations” (Psalms 33:11).
Nowadays, there is a praise that the indwelling Holy Spirit calls to my lips. That praise is “Thanks to God.” Although I can't memorize all the lyrics, I am happy and strengthened even when I think and sing the first part of the lyrics “Thanks to God for my Redeemer.” And the more I sing this song, the more I am thankful in my heart. I am thankful for as the song lyrics say “Thanks for thorns their stems contain” and “Thanks for prayers that Thou hast answered, Thanks for what Thou dost deny!” Of course, in my opinion, if God answers my prayer, I will be more thankful than when He refuses it. Of course, I will be more thankful if God only gives me a rose that is without thorns. But the indwelling Holy Spirit enables me to see in God’s perspective and helps me to be thankful for what God denies my prayers and for the thorny hardships He allows on my journey of faith. In particular, the Holy Spirit makes me to believe in God's thoughts and plans in a situation that isn’t in accordance with my thoughts and plans. He enables me to accept the situation that isn’t accordance with my thoughts and plans and to pray for His will and His plan to be done: ‘Not my will, but Your will be done’ and ‘Not my plan, but Your plan will be done.’
This is what Proverbs 19:21 says: “Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.” What does it mean? First of all, it means there are many plans in our minds. It implies that we have to make plans as we live on this earth. It is an unbalanced thought and an irresponsible attitude of faith to live by saying that only God's will needs to be fulfilled without any human plan. But even if we plan our course in our hearts, we must know that it is God determines our steps (16:9). And we must long for only the God’s will to be fully stand. We must pray that God's sovereign will be done on earth as it is in heaven, whether God's will is fulfilled through our plans or not.
In Psalms 33:11, the psalmist said that God's plan stands forever, and the purpose of His heart through all generations. In other words, the plan of the Lord and the purpose of his heart stand forever. God’s sovereign plan in the heart of the Lord who loves righteousness and justice (v. 5) and in His right and true heart reaches all generations. And because He is true, everything He does is also true (v. 4). That’s why whatever He speaks, it will come to be (v. 9). Look at Numbers 23:19 – “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” Since our God is true, He will do what He have said. Look at Isaiah 55:11 – “So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” The words coming out of God's mouth are never in vain, and it will never return to God. But it will surely fulfill God's pleasing will and bring success to His work. How comforting is this to us. Because God is true (Ps. 33:4) and He fulfills what He spoke (v. 9), we can have hope. What kind of hope? It is the hope that the word of God's promise will be fulfilled. Because we have this hope, we can bear and endure it. Because of this hope, we rejoice even during our troubles and faithfully fulfill our mission. Because of this hope, we not only don't mind about bearing on our bodies the brand-makes of Jesus, but rather we consider them our glory (cf. Gal. 6:17). Therefore, we have no choice but to thank God even if our plan is not fulfilled (Cf. Ps. 33:10). Even if things don't go as we thought, we have no choice but to give thanks to God. Because God has already accomplished the salvation promised to us in Jesus Christ, and is still fulfilling it and will fulfill it in the future, we will have no choice but to thank God in all circumstances.
This is what Job 42:2 says: “"I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.” Our almighty God can do everything and can accomplish in any plan. The true God will fulfill His grand plan of salvation through the Holy Spirit in Jesus Christ. Even if it doesn't go according to our plan, God's plan will surely and forever be fulfilled.
Trusting in true God,
James Kim
(Hoping and praying that my plan fits God’s plan)