“When I Don’t Understand God’s Plan” by Robin Gilbert

Our Lord is great and has awesome power; there is no limit to his wisdom. ~Psalm 147:5 NET

Some 30+ years ago our family was on one of those awesome, long, “why did we do this?” family road trips. Alexandria, our daughter, and Julian, our son, were sitting in the back seat and the oh-so-familiar “why” game began. My husband had not had the pleasure of experiencing the “why” game… he was in for a frustrating treat!

  “Mommy, why are we in the car?”

“Because we are going on a trip.”

“Why?”

“Because we decided to spend time together as a family?”

“Why?”

“Because daddy and I love you guys.”

“Why?”

…and so the game began and continued for thirty minutes.

Frustrated at simply listening to the conversation, my husband ended the game when our son asked why Zebras had stripes!

I explained that the game was not a game of defiance, but a game of “why”. Why were things the way they were? In playing the game, the kids were discovering boundaries: what they had control over and what they did not have control over. They were seeking answers that would shape their thoughts, actions, reactions, and lives. Those “why” answers would eventually formulate their personal life plan.

And it did… each of our children created a life plan. A plan they thought was perfect and we have watched the plan unfold, not always to our liking or understanding, not always to our ability to help, save, or change the outcome, but always with love, concern, and prayer in our hearts. And in our observation, there have been times when we have asked ourselves and each other if they were all raised in the same home! I can honestly say, I have had a difficult time understanding their plans. I will never be the “plan whisperer”!

So needless to say, I have had some difficult times understanding God’s plan. At times, I want so desperately to “get it all.” To see God’s plan for the future. To understand how it is all going to work out right here on this earth. In this decade. Or this year. Or this week, this minute… this second.

So often when I don’t understand God’s plan, there is a question I find myself asking: Where is God in all this?

The more I’ve been reflecting on this question recently, the more I’ve realized that the problem is not where God is. Because God is everywhere. The problem is that I’m asking the wrong question. You see, the question I should be asking is: Why can’t I see God in this? Because His fingerprints are all over His handiwork. He protects us. He covers us. He forgives us. He provides for us. He plans for us and walks us through the plan. Even when bad things happen to good people, He molds and reshapes until you can’t even recognize the bad anymore. It’s a plan called “redemption.” It is God’s plan of love.

So, I’ve stopped asking God where He is. I mean, it’s pretty obvious, He’s been here since before the beginning of time, He has always been by my side and He’s not going anywhere. He is the Alpha and Omega. I’ve started asking Him to reveal Himself to me, to show me how to be an instrument for His Kingdom, to show me how to have patience, to help me discern His voice when my head and heart are full of noise, to teach me to be bold. To help me see His work in every situation.

When I don’t understand God’s plan, I stop asking why and I begin to ask how.

A Prayer For When I Don’t Understand God’s Plan

Dear Father,

Today was one of those days-
You know the ones.
When life just doesn’t make sense.
When the world seems so unfair.
Because it is unfair.
I need you.
I need you to wrap your arms around me
And help me understand.
Help me to understand what I can do and what I am supposed to do
to shape and live my life as you would have me live.
I don’t understand everything, and I know that I am not supposed to.
There is no way to comprehend
Your plan of intricacy and detail for the entire world,
You are God.
And I am not.
You spoke the world into existence.
You shaped humans from dust.
And only You can create beauty from ashes.
May I anticipate the exquisite work of Your hands
to transform my nothing into Your everything.

Amen

~ Written by Robin Gilbert ~

Robin is a former Pastor and an ordained minister and a native of Denver, Colorado, who made Huntsville her home in 1982. Robin and her husband, Minister Isaiah Gilbert conduct Real Life Bible Studies through their ministry Our Church Without Walls. She is the founder of the Alabama Christian Business Association, a faith-based nonprofit organization that aids in the startup and connection of Christian owned businesses, and she has authored and published numerous books among which are Dear God…It’s Me – A Meditation Journal, The Ministers Resource Book, and What is…Asked Javien, a Christian children’s book collection.

Robin is a proud mother of four adult children, a mother-in-law and a grandmother of five, which she thanks God for each and every day. A powerful, dynamic, speaker Robin uses the gifts of the Spirit to speak from her heart and soul with a genuine love for whom God made her and for what she does. When asked how and/or why she does all that she does, she simply replies… “I Am The Lord’s”.

Tags: Robin Gilbert, Soul Food, Why