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“We can make our plans, but the Lord  determines our steps.” Proverbs 16:9

     By now, you’ve probably made some big plans for making this new year the best ever - set some goals, made some declarations, determined a few life changes, and maybe even posted a few on your fridge; and there are plenty who are right there with ya with their equally big plans! I’m a firm believer in having a plan. Why, I never go into any day without some kind of plan. I just can’t help myself! I function best when things are structured, so my natural response to disorder is to jump in and do what I can to bring order. With every unexpected situation that arises during the day, I immediately begin to evaluate and calculate - where do I want to be, and what’s the quickest and most effective way to get there?

     My husband was well aware of my tendencies early in our marriage, but when I attempted to plan an agenda for the first little TWO day “vacation” we were able to manage, he put his foot down. “The whole point of having a vacation is not having a plan,” he exclaimed! Of course, we planners know that those non-planners really do have a plan – sleep ‘til they feel like gettin’ up, take a shower when they feel like goin’ out, and eat when they feel good ‘n hungry. The only difference is, we base our vacation plans on the clock and they base theirs on their feelings!  I must say, our years spent together have helped my husband become more structured, and even better, they’ve helped me become more spontaneous! As a result, we’re both much more balanced in our approach to each day. However, my natural tendency remains dominant. Therefore, no day is without its plan, no segment of time is without its schedule, and no travel is without its mapped course. I’ve always got a plan! I’m like a quarterback with his receiver in sight and a pass pattern ready to execute – until, that is, something happens.

     What happens? Well, sometimes it’s a misplaced set of keys, a traffic delay, a thunderstorm, or an unexpected call from a friend. Whether it’s a simple delay or a total meltdown, one thing is sure - it’s not part of my plan! Now, at this point, I have two options: I can respond in anger, looking at it as an annoying interruption sent from Satan to completely annihilate my plan,  or I can look at it from the more positive point of view and receive it as a possible interception from God – an interception that provided just enough delay for me to avoid a traffic mishap – an interception that afforded a wonderful opportunity or blessing that I would have otherwise missed – an interception that invited me to join God in what He was doing in the life of a friend or even a complete stranger. My dear, optimist husband has a multitude of testimonies that begin with, “you’ll never guess who I ran into today!” That “chance” meeting may have caused him to reach his next destination 30 minutes later than he’d planned, but no matter! The connection was clearly a God thing in his eyes, and the opportunity it opened for a moment of influence or word of encouragement made it all worthwhile.   Sadly, there are some of us who find it a little more difficult to embrace such delays as anything but a setback. We are so intent on reaching the destination, we miss the blessing of the journey!

     Esther is a book in the Old Testament named for its heroine. When Esther’s mother and father died, Mordecai welcomed his niece into his home as if she were his own daughter. Years passed, and you probably know the story of how Esther was chosen to be King Xerxes’ new queen.  Everything was moving along nicely with little to no demand made on Esther until, that is, she was made aware of a plot to destroy the Jewish nation – of which she was a part!!! The day Mordecai urged Esther to do the right thing and somehow bring an end to this evil plan, he encouraged her with these words: “Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” Esther 4:14b

     In that one statement, Mordecai testified of his belief that God had intercepted Esther’s plans for the quiet, pampered life of a queen by extending an invitation for her to do something absolutely extraordinary and possibly life-altering. Thankfully, Esther was a willing participant, and the Jewish nation was spared as a result. We can only imagine the story we would be reading had Mordecai refused God’s interception of his plans, choosing instead to turn his back on Esther; not to mention what might have happened if Esther had turned a deaf ear to God’s direction in her life!

     Solomon said, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD.” Proverbs 37:23a If we lived as if we really believed that, nail biting, road rage, finger drumming, and most blood pressure medication would be a thing of the past! Before we’re so quick to judge something as a total loss of time or a scheme devised by the enemy, we need to consider God’s involvement in the delay and what He may want to accomplish in our life or that slot of time we have scheduled to the “nth” degree.

    The next time your plans are disrupted, resist the urge to complain! Don’t immediately jump to the conclusion that it’s a horrible turn of events meant to throw you off track. Sometimes it will be the enemy attempting to deter you; but more often it will be God inviting you to join Him in what He is doing. Who knows if perhaps you are standing in one of those “for just such a time as this” moments? Think about it. You may be God’s next Mordecai or Esther or simply be the Believer He uses to speak a word of encouragement to someone in distress. Jesus said, “Anyone who wants to be My disciple must follow Me, because My servants must be where I am.” John 12:26a

     When the next interruption happens, and it will, give God an opportunity to reveal Himself and HIS purpose for your day – for your YEAR - and walk in the blessing that comes from knowing you’re walking with Him!