One truth we must come to understand in the spiritual journey is that God’s ways are not our ways.  If we can embrace this truth, it will totally transform our stress levels.  I don’t know about you, but I am the type that likes to plan for my future.  When I know what is coming around the bend, I get ready for it to happen through careful calculation.  This is how I would choose to go along my spiritual journey, but God often has something better for me.  He loves me too much to let me live a life I can control.
 
Isaiah 55:8-9 are some of my favorite verses.  For my thoughts are notyour thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.  As theheavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, andmy thoughts than your thoughts.  I have to say after more than threedecades in the Christian life, I’m starting to feel very comforted withthis fact.
 
I don’t like it when my plans first get detoured.  I usually get alittle antsy or at a minimum question what He could possibly be thinking.  But,when I stop and look at it, how great are my own plans anyway?  Accordingto God they just aren’t good enough.  He wants better for me.  NowI don’t want you to misunderstand, oftentimes God’s better meansmore suffering for me.  When God says His ways are higher than our ways,what He means is that they serve a higher purpose. 
 
When God changes my plans it is usually for the purpose of building characterin me.  I don’t really consider building my character as high on mypriority list.  I would rather be comfortable, have people happy, have noworries.  God wants relationship.  He wants more for me than this worldcan give.  He wants me to grow to trust Him and see what He can do in andthrough me.
 
How has God altered your plans lately?  Have you been unable to conceivethe child you want with all your heart?  Did you lose the job you thoughtwould be your security into your old age?  Has the marriage you countedon to keep you feeling happy-ever-after left you feeling hurt and wounded?  Canyou believe that even the hard things you are going through, things you wouldnever have planned for yourself can be opportunities to grow closer to God?  Canthey be plans that are much higher than your own?  Can you trust God whenyour life is not going as you planned?