Week 4 – January 19-25, 2025: God’s Plans Are Far GREATER than Ours

This week’s daily readings:

January 19-25, 2025

This week’s devotional:

God’s Plans Are Far GREATER than Ours

by Katelyn Arnold

Scripture:

Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
— John 12:25 (NIV) 

Reflection:

A few months ago, I was talking to this guy who I met through mutual friends. We hit it off almost immediately, in fact everything was going well. We had amazing yet vulnerable conversations about our past struggles while sharing what the Lord was currently teaching us in our walks with Him—it was special. I thought to myself and said numerous times to God, “Ooh, I think he could be my husband!”

As the weeks went by, the Lord spoke through my friends, who shared with me that pursuing a relationship with this guy was not a good idea right now because we were unequally yoked. Although I appreciated their honesty, I chose to ignore their advice (and God) and continued to hang out with this guy because I wanted what I wanted when I wanted it—the story of my life. 

But finally, the Lord ended things between us, and as much as I knew (weeks later) it was a blessing and a part of His perfect plan for my life, I was very angry with Him. I began to wrestle with the Lord, asking questions like, “Why can’t I be in a relationship like everyone else?” “Why can’t it be my turn?” “God, you know I want this; why did you have to take this away from me?” 

Throughout those weeks of questioning God, I kept getting reminded that His plans are far greater than mine. He didn’t redirect me “just for the sake of it.” He did it to remind me that He wants and knows what is best for me way before I do. Here I am wishing that this guy would be my husband, only to find out later that the Lord was protecting me (out of love) from getting into a relationship that would leave me feeling disappointed and frustrated. He cares about me more than I could ever think or imagine. And His timing is perfect.

When I tried to control the situation, I was submitting to my worldly desires rather than being obedient to God. I wasn’t willing to let go of what I wanted and therefore was losing my life, as stated in John 12:25. Being a disciple of Jesus comes with a cost: it means surrendering my plans for my life and trusting in the Lord with all my heart, even when His plans don’t make sense to me in the moment. 

Ultimately, I can’t ‘love’ my life and still expect to follow Christ. And if I spend my whole life submitting to everything in the world, including a relationship, I will lose my life. But if I believe that God’s plans are perfect and therefore ‘hate’ my life and submit to the Lord, I will save my life for eternity. 

Prayer:

Lord, I thank you for your continuous redirection in my life. I know that you only come from a place of perfect love, wanting the best for me and I believe wholeheartedly that your plans are the best for me. Thank you for protecting my heart from getting into a relationship that wasn’t from you. God you are just so good! I pray that you would give me the discernment and wisdom that I lack in every situation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.