When Following God Doesn't Mean Putting Life on Hold

When Following God Doesn't Mean Putting Life on Hold

A few weeks ago, I wrote about letting go of control and allowing God to direct our steps. It sounds like a wonderful idea, doesn't it? Yet if we're being honest, many of us struggle with what that actually looks like in everyday life.

I know I do.

Recently, the Lord has been stirring my heart toward a ministry that I don't fully understand yet. I can sense His leading, but I don't have all the details. I don't know exactly where it's headed or what it will become. What I do know is that I want to be obedient to His voice and willing to follow wherever He leads.

The challenge is that life doesn't stop while we're waiting for clarity.

For nearly a year, our calendar had been filling up with plans. There were trips to take, family to visit, a wedding to attend, friends to reconnect with, and commitments that had been made months in advance. One event flowed into another until suddenly an entire month had passed.

Meanwhile, I had been making plans of my own. Emails were going out regularly. Bible reading plans were being published. New ideas and opportunities seemed to be gaining momentum.

Then life happened.

At first, I found myself wrestling with an uncomfortable question: Are all these other commitments getting in the way of what God wants me to do?

It's a question many of us ask.

Maybe for you it isn't travel. Maybe it's family responsibilities, work demands, health concerns, ministry commitments, or simply the realities of everyday life. We want to be available to God, but we also have obligations that require our time and attention.

Sometimes it can feel as though the two are competing against each other. But are they?

The more I prayed about it, the more I realized that following God doesn't require us to put life on hold.

In fact, God often works through the very moments we are tempted to see as interruptions.

He works through conversations around a dinner table. He works through visits with family members we haven't seen in a while. He works through encouraging a friend, attending a celebration, honoring a commitment, or simply showing up when someone needs us.

Those moments matter.

We sometimes imagine God's will as a destination waiting somewhere in the future, but much of His work happens in the ordinary moments of today.

That's why I don't believe the answer is to stop making plans while we wait for God to reveal the next step. Instead, I believe we're called to hold our plans with open hands.

Scripture tells us, "We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps" (Proverbs 16:9 NLT).

Notice that the verse doesn't say we shouldn't plan. It simply reminds us who ultimately directs the journey.

Planning is not a lack of faith. Planning can actually be an act of faith.

When we make plans prayerfully, we're planting seeds. We're preparing for opportunities that may come. We're asking God to go before us and prepare the way. Then we trust Him enough to redirect us if necessary.

That perspective has brought me a great deal of peace. Instead of viewing every delay as a setback, I'm learning to see many of them as part of God's preparation process. Instead of wondering whether life is interfering with His plans, I'm beginning to recognize that He is present within life's daily rhythms.

The truth is, none of us can see the whole picture.

We don't always know where God is leading. We don't always understand why certain seasons move quickly while others seem to crawl. We don't always know how the pieces fit together. But we can trust the One who does.

So if you're in a season where you're seeking God's direction while juggling the responsibilities of everyday life, be encouraged. Keep praying. Keep listening. Keep taking the next faithful step. Don't be afraid to make plans. Don't be afraid to invest in relationships. Don't be afraid to live the life God has placed before you.

As you do, trust that He is fully capable of guiding your path.

Sometimes His greatest work isn't found in the plans we make or even in the plans that change.

Sometimes it's found in the people we meet, the moments we share, and the lessons we learn along the way. And perhaps that's where the journey has been all along.

Reflection Question

Have you ever felt like everyday responsibilities were getting in the way of God's purpose for your life? What if those ordinary moments were actually part of His purpose?

Prayer

Lord, help me trust You with both my plans and my uncertainties. Give me wisdom to prepare for the future while remaining sensitive to Your leading. Teach me to see Your hand not only in the extraordinary moments but also in the ordinary rhythms of life. Help me walk faithfully wherever You lead. In Jesus' name, amen.

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