God Has a Plan in Our Difficulties

Lee Stroble, author of A Case for Christ, felt compelled to go visit an old friend he once worked with and invite him to Easter service. He dreaded going. He knew the man to be hardened to the Gospel and an unlikely candidate for church attendance.

As Lee expected, the man snapped back at him totally uninterested. Lee left wondering why God sent him to someone so unreceptive.

Years later, after speaking at a conference, a stranger approached Lee and asked if he recalled coming to a certain office and inviting a man to come to Easter service. He did, indeed.

"Well, I was standing in the back where you couldn't see me working on some equipment, but I listened to your conversation and got to thinking that I should be in church on Easter. So I went, and I became a Christian."

When we can see no purpose for what is happening and we feel God is oblivious to our difficulties, God still has a plan. But we must be prepared to wait on God's timing. His timing is precise, for He does things at the very time He has set.

Often, though, much time passes before God's good plans unfold. In the meantime, it may appear His plans failed or even that He had no plan.
 I recently saw a sign in front of a church that was a welcome reminder: "God has a plan and He can make it happen." Perhaps that morning the author of that sign had read Job's acknowledgment to God: "No plan of yours can be thwarted" (42:2).

Lord, I praise You that no power or combination of powers can thwart Your plans and purposes.

"The Lord's plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken" (Psalm 33:11)