When life throws me off course, I don’t handle it very well. I succumb to my fears and live tense and anxious. Recently our plans took a sharp turn and left me perplexed, frustrated, and even angry. What I thought was going to happen simply vanished. What do I do when plan A in my life becomes plan B? I thought plan A was pretty good, so I asked God “What are you doing?” I’m very goal-oriented and feel secure in my carefully-laid-out plans until my world is turned upside down with cancellations and unexpected course changes.

Our trip to East Asia included going to India as well. My visa to India was rejected twice. We pulled out all the stops trying to make this happen. After a while, I could see this just wasn’t going to happen. This turn of events left me frustrated and anxious, so I grabbed the dog, the dog leash, my headphones, and headed out the door for some exercise to help clear my head. I was three blocks from home and found myself standing in front of the house we almost bought thirteen years ago. I remembered how much we wanted that house. We put money down on it and thought it was a done deal. That was plan A. The sale fell through, and we were on to plan B, which was buying the house we are presently in. Our current neighborhood hasn’t always been easy to live in, but we’ve had many ministry opportunities. We’ve been able to share the gospel, pray for, and with hurting neighbors.

This got me thinking about how most of my life has been plan B. I remembered one situation after another when plan A became plan B. Plan B was always better; not just better, but surprisingly better. God can see around the corner when we cannot. He sometimes shields and protects us from situations that are not part of His plan for us. We probably won’t fully understand this until we see Him face-to-face.

I can weary myself with worry, fear, and anxiety over something I have little control over, or I can run into the arms of Christ for comfort and direction. Forcing plan A is not a good idea either. Metaphorically speaking, I forcibly tried to stick my toe into the closing door of India. I thought I saw a slight wedge of possibility still open. I had high hopes of keeping the door of plan A open. This only results in misery, and a cramped and painful toe trying hard to keep that door open!

God says, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you” (Jeremiah 29:11-12). I am to call, come, and pray to Him and lay down my plans for His plans because He’s listening, and knows what’s best for me.

I hate being thrust into the unknown. It leaves me really only two choices: trust God or trust myself. Where do I go for answers? In weariness, I cry out to the only one who can sort out the unexpected tangled mess. As I finally quiet my soul and open my Bible, I rediscover the timeless truths of God that fit every situation I encounter. They help me refocus and calm the storm in me. He knows how confused, weary, and fearful we can become. He offers comfort, solace, direction, and hope when our plan A doesn’t work out.

It comes down to a simple but poignant question, “Do I trust God?” When things are going well, it’s easier to say that I trust Him, but when the door abruptly and permanently shuts can I wholeheartedly and without reservation say, “I trust God?" This trust issue is a process in my life. Sometimes I do very well and other times not so well. It helps to look back at all the times in my life that plan A fell apart, and to rejoice at how God knew all along that plan B really was plan A!