When we read the Bible, it’s easy to feel a sense of distance from the amazing people of faith within its pages. Moses parted the Red Sea. Paul saw Jesus on the road to Damascus. Peter walked on water, and all three worked miracles. How could we possibly relate?
But here’s the truth: they were people with plans. Plans that didn’t always align with God’s. What made them remarkable wasn’t their power, it was their willingness to yield. They had hearts that were malleable, open to correction, and ready to pivot when God interrupted their expectations. That’s something we can do too.
Psalm 46:8–11 reminds us to “be still and know” that God is sovereign. It’s a call to surrender, not just in moments of crisis but in everyday life. Let’s explore how yielding our plans to God’s purpose can transform.
God’s Purpose Often Interrupts Our Plans
Take Joseph in the Old Testament for example. He started out as the favored son of Jacob, dreaming of greatness. But instead of rising quickly, he was nearly killed by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused, and thrown into prison. His dreams didn’t die though, they were refined. By the end of his life, Joseph had risen from the literal bottom and became perhaps the 2nd most powerful person on the planet, answering only to Pharaoh. In Genesis 50:20 he tells his brothers, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” Joseph could not have foreseen how God’s plan would work out from the beginning, but even through devastating times he put God’s will above his own.
Moses had a plan too. Raised in Pharaoh’s palace for 40 years, he assumed his royal status would be the key to rescuing his people. Acts 7:25 says he “supposed that his brothers would understand that God was giving them salvation by his hand.” But after killing an Egyptian, he fled into the wilderness and lived as a shepherd for 40 years. It wasn’t until the burning bush in Exodus 3:10–12 that Moses learned God’s plan for him to rescue Israel involved servitude, suffering, and spiritual leadership—not physical might or political power.
Peter left his fishing nets to follow Jesus, full of passion and impulsive zeal. He thought he knew the right plan for success as a Christian and tried to defend Jesus with a sword (John 18:10–11), but then ended up denying Him three times (John 18:25–27). Jesus didn’t discard Peter though, He restored him (John 21:17–19) and commissioned him to feed His sheep. Peter’s failure became the foundation for his calling, to fulfill God’s plan in God’s way, not his own way.
And then there’s Paul. A fierce defender of tradition, he persecuted Christians with zeal and thought He was serving God’s plan. But on the road to Damascus, Jesus blinded him to open his eyes to see that his plan was not in alignment with God’s (Acts 9:1-19). Later in Philippians 3:8–9, Paul declared that everything he once valued as a Pharisee was now happily lost compared to knowing Christ. Paul’s faith and passion was initially misplaced, but after finding out what God’s plan was, he got busy doing it.
These weren’t rebels, they were people of faith. But their plans were too small, too safe, or too self-directed. God didn’t crush their ambition—He repurposed it for something eternal.
What Do We Do When Our Plans Don’t Work?
So, what happens when our plans fall apart? When the job doesn’t come through, the relationship ends, the dream stalls?
1. Recognize the Disruption could be Divine. God’s interruptions are often invitations. Isaiah 55:8–9 reminds us, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.” What feels like a detour may be the beginning of destiny.
2. Release Control Without Losing Faith. Surrender isn’t passive, it’s active trust. James 4:13–15 warns us not to boast about tomorrow, because we just don’t know what it holds. Yielding means trusting God more than I trust my own plan.
3. Be Faithful in the Middle. Joseph was faithful in prison. Peter and Paul were completely wrong at one point, but didn’t quit, in faith they complied with God’s will. Galatians 6:9 encourages us: “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” The middle matters. It’s where character is forged.
4. Let God Use Your Story for Others. None of these biblical figures were blessed just for themselves. Their stories became lifelines for others. 2 Corinthians 1:3–4 says God comforts us so we can comfort others. Your detour might be someone else’s roadmap to climb out of sin’s grasp.
What If the Detour Is the Destiny?
Maybe you’ve been clinging to a plan that’s no longer working. Maybe you’re in the middle of a disruption that feels unfair or confusing. Maybe you’re afraid to let go because you don’t know what’s next.
Here’s the invitation: let God write the story. He’s not necessarily asking you to abandon your passion—He’s asking you to trust Him with the direction. The detour might be the very thing that leads you to your purpose.
Faith Challenges
Let me leave you with three simple but powerful challenges:
1. Surrender the Script. Are you so busy planning and writing your own life’s story that you haven’t considered God’s will? Pray over your plans and submit to God rewriting your life plan according to His purpose.
2. Stay Faithful. Don’t wait for clarity to be obedient. Serve, love, and grow right now.
3. Trust God’s Plan and Timeline. His ways are higher. His timing is perfect.
Yielding isn’t weakness, it’s wisdom. It’s the posture of every faithful person God has used, and it’s the path to a life that matters. So be still. Let go. And let God lead.
Jeff S. Mullen
Blanco Hills Church
830-554-0701
blancohillschurch.com