One cliché in the business world states that individuals never plan to fail. They just fail to plan. In other words, without an intentional strategy, businesses (and people) simply drift wherever the prevailing winds drive them.
As men of faith, we understand the importance of having a plan. And we understand that the plan for our lives has to come from a Source higher and wiser than us. So, the question becomes, Does God have a specific plan for my life?
Which is followed closely by, If so, what is it?
“Yes” and “It depends”
From a biblical perspective, the simple answers to those questions are “yes” and “it depends.” But as Christian men wondering if God has a plan for our lives, we don’t need to settle for the simple answers. We need to dig a little deeper.
As we’ll see in a minute, the Bible is clear that God does have a plan for each person. That makes sense because He’s a God who wants things “done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40). God’s passion for orderliness suggests purpose and planning is high on His priority list. God never does anything by accident, and that would include what He is doing in our lives.
Yet, while God has a purpose for each individual, that plan depends on the person. My gifts and abilities probably don’t look like yours, and that’s OK. But we all have a purpose, and our unique purposes are the pieces that make the whole puzzle of God’s bigger plan fit together.
So, as you’re asking “does God have a plan for my life?” keep these foundational truths in mind. Yes, He does have a plan for you. And, it’s a one-of-a-kind purpose designed with you in mind.
Truths About God’s Purpose
So, we’ve laid the foundation in our quest to answer Does God have a specific plan for our lives? We established the framework that God does have a unique plan for each of us. But we still need to know how to identify His particular purpose for us. After all, we can’t act on His plan until we recognize His plan.
In the space below, I’ve identified five principles for discovering God’s plan for your life. These are drawn straight from His Word, so they are His ideas, not my own. And while I can’t define God’s calling on your life, I do believe these truths will point you in the right direction.
God has made some things pretty clear
As we look into God’s Word to determine His plan for our lives, we can see some “no brainers” where He clearly identifies His will. For example, we know that He wants everyone to accept His offer of salvation through His Son, Jesus (2 Peter 3:9). We really can’t know His purposes or obey His plans until we give our lives to Him.
He also wants us to avoid sin and embrace holy living (1 Thessalonians 4:3-4) and to rejoice in every circumstance (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Like salvation, these are basic elements of the Christian life that are spelled out in the Bible. We are told in no uncertain terms that they are part of God’s plan for our lives.
Never doubt that God is at work on His plan
When God called Jeremiah, He told the young prophet that He had chosen him before his first breath (Jeremiah 1:5). Through the years, Jeremiah did his best to live out God’s call on his life, and he learned to trust God with the things he could not control. And, in a time when the Babylonians posed a constant threat to the Jews, there was a lot Jeremiah couldn’t control.
But God’s message to him was his message to the people. The Lord had a plan that He would fulfill (Jeremiah 29:10-14). Enemy nations and extended exile didn’t hinder God’s work. To the contrary, He used those things to fulfill His purposes for His people. You may just be starting out on this road to answer Does God have a plan for my life?, but He’s been working on that plan for longer than you might think.
God equips you for the plan He has for you
This is where we really start to gain some clarity on the plan God has for our lives. Since each person’s purpose is unique, He has gifted each of us in unique ways. Some of our gifts and talents may overlap with others, but the mix He has placed in our lives matches His plan for us perfectly.
The apostle Paul compared spiritual gifts to a body (Romans 12:3-8). Just as a human body needs many parts working together to stay healthy, God’s body (the Church) needs different parts (us with our gifts) working together to complete His mission effectively. So, as you think about God’s plan for your life, look at your talents and gifts. They are a hint to God’s plan in your life because He gave them to you to fulfill His purposes.
Walk in the light you have
During my senior year in college, I face a vocational dilemma. I wasn’t sure if God wanted me to pursue journalism or student ministry. Through the wise advice of a mentor, I gained some clarity and moved forward in the light God had provided. I stayed with journalism, though He has allowed me to work in student ministry as a volunteer for more than 35 years now.
It’s OK to have questions about God’s plan for your life. But He doesn’t want the uncertainty to bog you down. Keep doing what you know is right and look for more light as He provides it. You should read your Bible and pray for insight. You should talk with people who know you well and get their feedback. But you also should grow where He has planted you in the moment. Obey Him where you are, and He will show you where to go next (Proverbs 3:5-6; Psalm 37:3-6; 119:105).
God always finishes what He starts
Whether you’re still trying to nail down God’s plan for your life or you’ve been living it out for a while now, you inevitably will struggle and doubt. You’ll wonder if you’re still on the right path or if you’re missing something. For those times, it’s great to remember what Paul told the Philippians: “I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).
Honestly, we will never see the whole picture God is painting in our lives this side of heaven. But, rather than wonder Does God have a plan for our lives?, it’s better to remember He always finishes what He starts. It might not make sense in the moment, but God has promised to work everything out for His glory and our good when we seek and follow His plan (Romans 8:28).
Making the Right Choice
Even when we discover God’s plan for our lives, we’re left with a choice. One option is rejecting His plan. We can resist Him, but fighting with God never leads us to a good place. As C.S. Lewis once noted, “When you argue against [God] you are arguing against the very power that makes you able to argue at all: it is like cutting off the branch you are sitting on.”
The other option is to join Him where He is at work in the world. Another Christian writer, Frederick Buechner, has shared that God’s purpose leads us to “the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” In other words, finding and obeying God’s plan for our lives is a win-win for us and those around us.
Best of all, God gets the glory when we make the right choice.
