When God Interrupts My Plans

This morning, I spent some time with the Lord that left me both encouraged and convicted.

Not condemned.

Convicted.

There is a difference.

Condemnation pushes us away from God. Conviction draws us closer.

As I sat with Him, I began to realize something that wasn’t easy to admit: lately, I’ve been focused on my plans, my goals, my timeline, my desires, and all the things I think need to happen.

I’ve been doing all the right things on the outside.

I’ve been waking up early.

Reading my Bible.

Praying.

Spending time in worship.

Writing.

Serving.

But somewhere along the way, I realized I had become more focused on what I wanted God to do than on simply following Him.

Ouch.

It’s hard to hear that about yourself.

Yet as difficult as it was, I knew it was true.

I’ve spent so much time worrying about what needs to happen next that I haven’t slowed down enough to ask a simple question:

“Lord, is this even Your will?”

I think sometimes we can become so consumed with moving forward that we forget to ask God if we’re headed in the right direction.

We pray for Him to bless our plans instead of inviting Him to lead us.

We ask Him to open doors we’ve chosen rather than asking Him which door He wants us to walk through.

And if I’m being honest, anxiety often fuels that process.

When we’re anxious, we want answers.

We want movement.

We want certainty.

We want control.

But faith rarely grows in control.

Faith grows in surrender.

The Lord gently reminded me today that He never asked me to carry the weight of figuring everything out.

He never asked me to orchestrate every outcome.

He never asked me to force doors open.

He simply asked me to trust Him.

That sounds simple.

It isn’t.

At least not for me.

Waiting is hard.

Surrender is hard.

Letting go of the reins is hard.

Especially when there are things we deeply desire.

But I’ve learned that God’s discipline is one of the greatest expressions of His love.

Hebrews tells us that the Lord disciplines those He loves.

Not because He is angry.

Not because He is disappointed.

But because He is a good Father.

A Father who loves us too much to leave us where we are.

A Father who gently redirects us when we begin relying on ourselves instead of Him.

So today, I’m taking a step back.

Not because I’m giving up.

Not because God has abandoned me.

But because I want Him to lead.

I want His will more than my own.

I want His timing more than my timeline.

I want His direction more than my plans.

And maybe that’s where some of you find yourselves today too.

Maybe you’ve been striving.

Maybe you’ve been worrying.

Maybe you’ve been trying to make things happen.

Maybe you’ve been carrying burdens God never asked you to carry.

Friend, you don’t have to have all the answers.

You don’t have to force the outcome.

You don’t have to hold everything together.

You can surrender it to the One who already knows the end from the beginning.

Today, my prayer is simple:

“Lord, help me trust You again. Teach me to wait well. Show me Your will and give me the courage to follow wherever You lead.”

And honestly?

That’s enough.

Because the safest place we’ll ever be is right in the center of His will.

Even when we don’t know where He’s leading next.