What can you learn from a failed plan?
"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"
- Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
After attending a recent doctor's visit with one of my sons, I left feeling discouraged. The plan of care we were hoping for wasn't going to work out. This felt like a huge disappointment to us.
As I went out the doors to exit the clinic, I remembered Plan B. Could this plan really work, Lord?
In the days that followed my son started taking steps to work out Plan B. It appeared it could work. In fact, it could be the better plan after all.
What else can you do when Plan A fails, but move to Plan B? Then I picked up a book I was reading and there I saw in black and white these words, "Plan B: stands for better."
What a confirmation those words were to my heart as I read them. It made me stop and think of how many Plan A's I've experienced in my life that have failed but lead to the better situation.
Many times we think we know the right plan, but God desires to show us his own purpose.
Oftentimes, there is something we can learn from a failed plan. God may be using it to prepare us for something else. Sometimes we have come as far as we can with Plan A, and it's time for the next step. Other times our plans fail because we didn't ask God to direct our steps to his fulfill his plan.
God created the universe when it was null and void of anything. So why don't we trust him to create something out of nothing for us? Although many times we have our part, we must trust God with his.
God is using his plan to construct our lives for good. His plan is not the secondary, fallback plan, but the primary one. If your Plan A doesn't work, don't assume you have to settle for something less in Plan B - just remember you've discovered a fresh start with the "Better Plan."
• Annettee Budzban is a Christian author, inspirational speaker, life coach and nurse. Annettee will be speaking on "Building Skills to Bring Success" from 7-8 p.m. Thursday, May 22, at Panera Bread in Gurnee. She is presenting "Writing and Publishing" Thursday, May 29, at the same time and place. Registration is suggested due to limited space. She can be contacted at Annetteebudzban@aol.com or (847) 543-8413.