How to Make Plans When There’s No Blueprint for Life

How to Make Plans When There’s No Blueprint for Life

The nurse handed me my newborn. Looking down at my first child I wondered, What do I do now? My husband was packing up our hospital room and we were heading home. They just give us this child…. I thought how crazy is this that I’m now in charge of a whole human being!? “I have no idea what I’m doing!” I thought to myself. And I didn’t. Even now, years later, I feel like a new mom again. My children are growing up and although I didn’t know anything about raising children, I am doing it. I just don’t feel like I know what I am doing. 

The other day I told my husband we are in the “middle” years. We’ve been parents for about fifteen years and we have about ten or eleven years until our youngest graduates high school. Maybe fifteen more years of “active” parenting left. (All you parents of adult children have told me that parenting doesn’t end when they become adults, it just changes.) 

The active parenting years are hard and there have been so many times I’ve wished for a “blueprint”. There are no books, no lectures, no masterclasses, and no experts that can tell you what to do for your children. As I was reflecting on this thought this morning I realized God has prepared me to be their mother. In all of His wisdom and understanding He orchestrated that these five children would be my five children. I would be their mother, not because I was perfect, but I would be who He needed me to be for them. 

Equipped

Inside of me God designed me to be the best person I could be for them. Not perfect, but by His grace and wisdom, I have everything I need to be equipped to be their mother. The doctrine of grace comforts me in this daily thought that God doesn’t make mistakes and anything good in me is because of God’s grace. And if I didn’t do anything to earn the grace, I can’t do anything to lose the grace. 

Thinking about motherhood and needing a “plan” reminds me that this applies to other areas of my life. As a wife, a friend, a sister, a daughter, and writer I have everything I need to live out God’s calling in my life. God doesn’t ask us to be equipped, He equips us. When we are walking close to God, desiring to do His will, seeking His wisdom, we will have everything we need to live our life. 

The blueprint for our lives is not found in a book but in a relationship – with God. When my time with God and I am praying and reading my Bible to spend time with Him – when that is going well the other pieces fall into place. I don’t mean there won’t be hardships, but there will be joy. Where there is obedience there is joy and peace. Instead of figuring out what would be the “right” thing to do, I need only learn to obey what God has told me to do. 

3 Truths

How do we make plans? We do it by confidently stepping forward in these three truths: 

1. God will guide us! God has given us Himself to lead and guide us to do the work He has called us to do! 
2. God will equip us! God doesn’t just leave us alone, He gives us the tools, wisdom, and power to do what He calls us to do. 
3. God has a purpose. Nothing is wasted with God. Not even this season today. God can use it for your good and His glory. 

When I think about having a “plan” I often get stressed if there isn’t a clear path. But in my book, I Didn’t Sign Up for This, I talk about the life of Moses. Moses had a plan and God completely interrupted it. But God’s plan was never thwarted. God fulfilled His purpose for Moses’ life and He will fulfill His purpose for my life – and yours! 

The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;

 your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.

Do not forsake the work of your hands. Psalm 138:8 (ESV)

If you want to read more of Moses’ story, check out my book coming out soon!