The Plan of a Young Person

Recently, I was talking to a young person, just about to graduate high school, about their future plans. I asked him what he was planning to do with the next few years of his life. He went on to tell me about his life plan – what he was going to do, where he was going to live, etc. It was interesting to listen to the certainty in his plan. There was no doubt or room for anything possibly changing his plan. I remember being that age and being pretty set about my life plan. Am I where I expected to be, according to that plan? No, not at all. There doesn’t seem to be a way to explain to a young person just starting out, all the unexpected things that can come up, that will instantaneously change your life, possibly forever. I think as we grow older, we become more aware of how transitional life can be. I can’t think of one person whose life has gone exactly according to their starting out in life plan. And most people I know may not be perfectly happy with where they are at, but they certainly don’t want to go back to their initial plan. I think God has a way of taking each of us on our own journey, according to his plan not our own. And although I have really liked some of my plans, in the end I certainly would rather be on his plan, than mine.
But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken. Psalm 33:11
You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail. Proverbs 19:21
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28
Originally posted April 2011