“For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope”— Jeremiah 29:11 (TLB).
A recent discussion about my former career as an educator led me to share how God had intervened in my choice of college majors. When I first enrolled in 1971, my plans were to major in elementary education.
I’ve always enjoyed working with young children. I loved babysitting as a teenager and working in our church’s nursery. However, when I first met with my college advisor, he said, “Carol, there are so many in that field, you’ll have a difficult time finding a job after graduation.”
Then, when he inquired about my favorite school subject, I didn’t even hesitate. I excelled in English. Literature and penning my own stories, essays, and poems led to straight A’s in the subject. When I graduated from college four years later, I was offered a high school job teaching English and journalism (my minor). Years later, I realized God’s plans for me were the best.
God’s Plans are Always the Best
At the time, I wasn’t quite sure why God led me into secondary education. It was only after years of teaching that I realized how much I loved working with teenagers.
I had a passion for making sure they left my classroom able to communicate in writing, as well as having knowledge and appreciation of literature. Years later, some of my former students would contact me, letting me know the things I’d taught them now benefitted them in college or in their jobs.
While God’s plans may not be what we expected, scripture affirms He does have plans for us—plans for good and not evil. He wants to give us a future and hope. More than that, He wants to use us for His purposes. Proverbs 19:21 says, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”
Being Used for God’s Purposes
Some people drift through life. They struggle, trying to find meaning, and wonder why they’re even here. I’ve encountered some of those people while volunteering in different ministries at our church. My heart goes out to the lost.
As God’s servants, our volunteers use these opportunities to encourage and share the Good News with others. With God’s leading, we do all we can and leave the rest to Him.
The Bible talks about the struggles of those who walked away from God or who chose a different path before accepting God’s plan for their lives. Scriptures also reveal stories of God’s intervention so that His purposes and plans would prevail.
Discovering God’s Plan
Our ultimate purpose in God’s Kingdom is to glorify Him. What does that look like? In Psalm 100:2-3, we’re told to worship God with gladness and “know that the Lord is God.” He created us, and we are His. “We are His people, the sheep of His pasture.”
Therefore, we fulfill our life’s purpose by glorifying God and living in a relationship and faithful service to Him. Our purpose cannot be fulfilled apart from Him. Remember King Solomon? Solomon tried living for His own pleasure. However, at the end of His life, he concluded that the only worthwhile life is lived in honor and obedience to God.
When we spend time with and get to know our Creator, we grow in our love for Him. We can then better understand “whose” we are and what our purpose is. We belong to Him. God has a unique plan and purpose for each of us—plans that will ultimately result in His glory.
I always love hearing from my readers. Please feel free to e-mail me at carol@carolaround.com with your thoughts, or visit my blog for more inspiration at www.carolaround.com. If you need a speaker or workshop leader, you can contact me at the above e-mail or through my website. I’d be delighted to hear from you.
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