Does God Really Have a Plan?

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

Have you ever wondered if God really has a plan for your life? Ever wondered; Does God really know what He’s doing? Does He really know or really care about my situation?

As Christians we all go through times of doubt, frustration and suffering. These are called “desert experiences”. We all have them. Even Jesus himself had them. These are time that we have to rely on our faith in God to pull us through.

Have you ever been going through something, some trial, some tragedy in your life that has really pushed your faith to the end of the rope? Don’t you just hate hearing someone tell you that God is in control and has a plan for your life?

Maybe you’re like me. Maybe sometimes the future looks dark and hearing someone say, “God has a plan” is the equivalent to rubbing salt in an open wound. I know that already. I know he is in control. I know he has a plan. These people mean well and are just trying to help and encourage us, but hearing something that we already know doesn’t help at that particular moment. Well, I’ve got some good news for you: the Bible is full of people like us.
David was promised to become the next king of Israel. But before that happened he found himself on the run from a half-crazy Saul who wanted to kill him.

Daniel and his friends became leaders and high officials, spreading God’s word to Babylon. Of course, first they had to be kidnapped, renamed, and face death on multiple occasions.
Finally, Jesus’ disciples believed they had finally found the one true Messiah, and then had to watch the Son of God be executed like a common criminal. Do you think there were ever moments when each of them wondered, “Does God really have a plan?” God really does love us and he really does care about what we are going through.

These “desert times” are for our benefit. They may seem unpleasant at the time even painful, but they strengthen our faith and make us stronger Christians, able to be used by God. If David had just went straight to the throne without his desert experience, he may have been a horrible king. Without the trials that Danial and his friends went through, they would not have made such an impact for God. If Joseph had not been sold into slavery by his brothers, falsely accused of rape and imprisoned, he would not have been able to save his family and all of Egypt from the famine.

The point I’m trying to make is this: We may not understand the way God works or why He allows such pain and suffering. But in the end, when we come out the other side of the tunnel and look back, we can see his handiwork. We will see why we had to go through the desert to get to the mountain top.

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