What Is This "plan" I Keep Hearing About

Hi-
I'm a new Christian struggling with this sinful world like everyone else.

Please forgive me if I seem a bit rough. I am really having trouble hearing about all of these "plans" that people say are in store for us. I do not mean to be disrespectful to God, I'm just frustrated. It seems like every broken heart, every devastated life, every crushing problem can be explained away by saying there is a plan for you.

If your life is in ruin, and the walls are closing in, is there ALWAYS a plan waiting for you??? I mean how long do you have to wait for the plan to execute? 20 years?, 40?, on your deathbed?? Some people seem to fall all the way down and die after a bad life. What was their plan?? Is it possible that some events are a result of things just happening and human error??

I have been struggling for 40+ years and have yet to feel a plan in action. Just being honest.
Thanks for listening.
 
There are no shortage of false prophets and prophecies of pie in the sky these days :).

The only plan for any of us is to be saved. Once saved we enter the service of God whatever that may be. He decides and leads our footsteps Psalm 37:23.

Having a great destiny or something special planned just for us, is teaching that appeals to our pride. We are to submit to the will of God. It may be to be rich and someone prominent in society or it may not. Likely not as God is meek and lowly in heart Matt 11:29. The devil's native language is deceitfulness / lying John 8:44.

The bible tells us not to worry about tomorrow but to take a day at a time.
 
Thank you for the reply. When life gets extremely hard, I often worry if I am going against God's plans. The reason I mentioned plan is I never know if we all should be patient, wait for things or try to make them happen. You always hear about things happening on God's time not your time. That is very confusing. I cant imagine sitting and waiting for everything/anything.
But then again only God knows when you are truly ready for things...problem Is I never do.

You made an interesting point. The bible often says don't worry. In this day, how can you not worry about health insurance, the job market, the economy, world events. Back in the day, things were simple and more local. Now you do not have family and friends to help with things. It is a different environment right?
 
I believe that everyone has a plan, but I don't think that those plans are always realized within our lifetime. The Bible seems to imply that we will have tasks to perform in heaven. I think that sometimes we don't get the payoff until we die. I personally don't believe that I will receive my reward until I die, but who knows with God, He's virtually impossible to predict.
 
I believe that everyone has a plan, but I don't think that those plans are always realized within our lifetime. The Bible seems to imply that we will have tasks to perform in heaven. I think that sometimes we don't get the payoff until we die. I personally don't believe that I will receive my reward until I die, but who knows with God, He's virtually impossible to predict.

That seems very logical. Why are the plans so hard to figure out? Does someone living in a cardboard box have a plan? I wonder if a large part of life just happens. We are like children in a house alone sometimes.
 
That seems very logical. Why are the plans so hard to figure out? Does someone living in a cardboard box have a plan? I wonder if a large part of life just happens. We are like children in a house alone sometimes.
A verse comes to mind about that:

Isaiah 55:8-9
King James Version (KJV)

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

I'll level with you, I don't trust God much at all. I expect to be disappointed in Him at the end of my life. But I do hold on to that little bit of hope that God really does care about me and that all will make sense to me in the end. All I can do is wait to find out, and try to trust God so that I have a good defense when He questions me at the end of my life.
 
Hi-
I'm a new Christian struggling with this sinful world like everyone else.

Please forgive me if I seem a bit rough. I am really having trouble hearing about all of these "plans" that people say are in store for us. I do not mean to be disrespectful to God, I'm just frustrated. It seems like every broken heart, every devastated life, every crushing problem can be explained away by saying there is a plan for you.

If your life is in ruin, and the walls are closing in, is there ALWAYS a plan waiting for you??? I mean how long do you have to wait for the plan to execute? 20 years?, 40?, on your deathbed?? Some people seem to fall all the way down and die after a bad life. What was their plan?? Is it possible that some events are a result of things just happening and human error??

I have been struggling for 40+ years and have yet to feel a plan in action. Just being honest.
Thanks for listening.

You raise excellent points. Suffering is not something to make light of or just casually explain away. I believe there is a great biblical reason for it, but I do not think it is appropriate to "explain away" the suffering. But I do believe this explanation can give us hope and context so we can bare it.

If you peace the scripture together for topics surrounding the origins of sin, the effects of sin, what God had to do to save us from sin, and how God gives us victory over sin then we can understand why we still live in a fallen world with suffering instead of living in paradise where we will have our new bodies, free from all suffering. Every page in the bible is an unfolding of the plan of redemption, from Genesis to Revelation. I do not know if I could elaborate on such a deep study in one post, even scratching the surface would take some prayer and study (It usually takes me about an hour to do this study in person). Nevertheless, it is a very fascinating bible study especially if you actually want to understand the context of what Gods plan is for your life. Sometimes people tell us that God has a plan for us but it seems like a total mystery. While there are things we cannot know, I believe the bible reveals a plan that we should know and one that is already in effect.

God bless,
MoG
 
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Thank you for the reply. When life gets extremely hard, I often worry if I am going against God's plans. The reason I mentioned plan is I never know if we all should be patient, wait for things or try to make them happen. You always hear about things happening on God's time not your time. That is very confusing. I cant imagine sitting and waiting for everything/anything.
But then again only God knows when you are truly ready for things...problem Is I never do.

You made an interesting point. The bible often says don't worry. In this day, how can you not worry about health insurance, the job market, the economy, world events. Back in the day, things were simple and more local. Now you do not have family and friends to help with things. It is a different environment right?
Remember Phil 12:2 and 1 Cor 11:31. We all need to daily examine ourselves. If we truthfully judge ourselves, its not to say we are immediately right with God but it shows our hearts intent is good and God can work with that. We need to do this to isolate the root cause of bad things coming upon us. Sickness can be from sin or just God not able to hear our prayers John 9:31.

Not having good doctors or medicine in the past would make life more stressful. Today you get a job and just pay the bills. God doesn't want us to ignore the reality of these 'frustrations' but we must enter a rest from stress. Phil 4:7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 2 Tim 2:4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer.
 
Hi-
I'm a new Christian struggling with this sinful world like everyone else.

Please forgive me if I seem a bit rough. I am really having trouble hearing about all of these "plans" that people say are in store for us. I do not mean to be disrespectful to God, I'm just frustrated. It seems like every broken heart, every devastated life, every crushing problem can be explained away by saying there is a plan for you.

If your life is in ruin, and the walls are closing in, is there ALWAYS a plan waiting for you??? I mean how long do you have to wait for the plan to execute? 20 years?, 40?, on your deathbed?? Some people seem to fall all the way down and die after a bad life. What was their plan?? Is it possible that some events are a result of things just happening and human error??

I have been struggling for 40+ years and have yet to feel a plan in action. Just being honest.
Thanks for listening.
God'splan for you is not the same as Hisplan for me, being a Christian in this world buttrust in Him.
 
All of the responses have been helpful in trying to make sense of things. If I understand, the biggest plan is salvation. I will continue to study the bible and understand what it says. A couple of people mentioned trust in different contexts. Trust seems a little to vague. I trust that God is just, perfect, unchanging, loving.... all the good things. I trust in what he does is perfect. However bad things still happen. You can trust all you want but we still live in this rotten dangerous world. Will trust help you get safely home in a blinding snowstorm or will good snow tires do the job? Will trust get you through a rough neighborhood? Regardless of trust, we have to deal with the realities of this world. Can we trust that God will save us from our selves or do we have our own personal responsibilities? I'm not exactly sure where I'm going with this but thanks in advance for the guidance.
 
I don't think that trust in God will deliver you from even the worst tragedies. It can sometimes, if God wills; but I think that trusting God refers to trusting in His grace and mercy, even when it seems improbable. I think that we are asked to trust that God will make everything work out for the better, even though it might not seem possible to us. Just my opinion though....
 
All of the responses have been helpful in trying to make sense of things. If I understand, the biggest plan is salvation. I will continue to study the bible and understand what it says. A couple of people mentioned trust in different contexts. Trust seems a little to vague. I trust that God is just, perfect, unchanging, loving.... all the good things. I trust in what he does is perfect. However bad things still happen. You can trust all you want but we still live in this rotten dangerous world. Will trust help you get safely home in a blinding snowstorm or will good snow tires do the job? Will trust get you through a rough neighborhood? Regardless of trust, we have to deal with the realities of this world. Can we trust that God will save us from our selves or do we have our own personal responsibilities? I'm not exactly sure where I'm going with this but thanks in advance for the guidance.

You can trust 100% in God to provide all your needs. The thing is, God has met many of our needs by giving us a working brain and hands. Pride, giving into sin and laziness are the three things that we need to judge ourselves harshly on. We simply tie God's hands if we are guilty of them. You stuck in the snow? Use your brain to get out. If we always expect miraculous type help from Him....it is vanity! He has our backs if we fail but He does not care about us seeing miracles. He does not want us to live with our heads in the clouds and be no earthly good.

Psalm 125:1 Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever.
 
Very Important question. Which can be answered by only the TRUTH. The Hard Truth.
We are all here because of entertainment.
Entertainment? Yes Entertainment of and for the Highest Authority
The one above all.
I call that one God too. Our Father. Our Mother. The whole plan is to show off. Showing off all Its beauty.
I say it because Its not Male or Female. God is Spirit. God is Time personified and therefore all time is God's time.
I guess believing is the key in all ways. Believe the time is right and it will be right.
Believing in yourself means believing in God. God created the creator to create us. Limiting creation by creation until the totally dumb and useless things in the world. Just to display the power and this power is He himself. So its just to display himself.
In the beginning was The word and The word was with God and The word was God.
Solomon came to the realisation that all is vain. Because in the end nothing would even matter.
We are the image and likeness of God. Not only humans but birds and all other animals, mountains the trees and every other thing.
So I guess you can say the plan is just to pass time or just nothing at all.
My understanding on life is just making something worth living for. Even though nothing is.
 
We are the image and likeness of God. Not only humans but birds and all other animals, mountains the trees and every other thing.
So I guess you can say the plan is just to pass time or just nothing at all.
My understanding on life is just making something worth living for. Even though nothing is.

God created only mankind in His likeness/image ..
only man has Will, Soul & Spirit ..

Gen 1:26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

1Th 5:23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Hbr 4:12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

the spirit is "your eternal life force" ..
your soul is "who you are"

Ecc 3:21 Who knows that the breath of man ascends upward and the breath of the beast descends downward to the earth?

so the life force of the physical man continues in his eternal spirit life force ..
while an animals physical life forces ends ..

God created mankind to share life with Him .. that is the plan ..
mankind by disobedience was cursed with separation from God ..
God through GRACE (compassion) made a fix for that (if we accept) ..
therefore we can once again share life with Him .. thus the plan continues ..
 
God created only mankind in His likeness/image ..
only man has Will, Soul & Spirit ..

Gen 1:26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

1Th 5:23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Hbr 4:12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

the spirit is "your eternal life force" ..
your soul is "who you are"

Ecc 3:21 Who knows that the breath of man ascends upward and the breath of the beast descends downward to the earth?

so the life force of the physical man continues in his eternal spirit life force ..
while an animals physical life forces ends ..

God created mankind to share life with Him .. that is the plan ..
mankind by disobedience was cursed with separation from God ..
God through GRACE (compassion) made a fix for that (if we accept) ..
therefore we can once again share life with Him .. thus the plan continues ..


Wherever the soul goes, God is there. All things are one with God. Part and parcel of God.
He said let there be light and there was light.
In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and it was God all at once. Therefore Light is God and so is darkness. Because they came about through his words which are He Himself, It is just too hard to accept.
God knew of mankind’s disobedience before even creating mankind.
WHY?
Entertainment once again.
Everything that is happening, has happened and will happen is all in vain. Mae something worthy. Anything can be worthy. Its all up to us.
We came from his spoken word. We came from his power. We are part and parcel of God.
 
You can trust 100% in God to provide all your needs.
With respect, I can not see that. It is a common statement but very troubling.

I have to ask, all of what needs are being met please? Needs for salvation? The reason I ask is this world is extremely needy
Thank you
 
With respect, I can not see that. It is a common statement but very troubling.

I have to ask, all of what needs are being met please? Needs for salvation? The reason I ask is this world is extremely needy
Thank you
Matt 6:26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

2 Tim 2:4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer.

Don't forget John 9:31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will.

Whatever you are going through you have to remember that one-day when we are in heaven we will sit at a table and have tea and scones with God. We will be able to accuse Him of any wrongdoing. But the mere fact that we will be with Him at His table, in His house for all eternity should show us that He is simply not going to be guilty of anything. The shortfall is OUR side. We are in sin. We are liars. We are weak and unable to endure trials that He sends us. Remember Paul praised and thanked God for his hardships. How many Christians do you know that can do the same? Can you?
 
Matt 6:26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

2 Tim 2:4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer.

Don't forget John 9:31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will.

Whatever you are going through you have to remember that one-day when we are in heaven we will sit at a table and have tea and scones with God. We will be able to accuse Him of any wrongdoing. But the mere fact that we will be with Him at His table, in His house for all eternity should show us that He is simply not going to be guilty of anything. The shortfall is OUR side. We are in sin. We are liars. We are weak and unable to endure trials that He sends us. Remember Paul praised and thanked God for his hardships. How many Christians do you know that can do the same? Can you?
Great words KingJ. Please understand, I'm not trying to argue or prove a point. Right now there are things I can not see past. Please dont give up!

God feeds the birds? or does God potentially provide substance for the average bird? Birds still starve and sometimes they become food themselves. That's the way things seem to go. God made the world and everything in it. Sometimes the wind just blows one way and a bird winds up starving. God provides the means of survival but there is no guarantee that you will be connected with what you need to survive. I cant stop viewing this world as a lost tragic place. Sometimes bad things happen. I can't see a loving God, throwing starvation, horrible misery and suffering our way. If you fall off a boat and land in the middle of a stormy sea, you are going to drown. Happens all the time. My immature brain can not see that situation as a challenge from God and drowning as failure. You fell, gravity made you hit the water, your lungs filled with water and can no longer exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide, brain death follows in minutes. Again, I would not waste the forum's time with college debates. These questions are REALLY eating away at my spirit. Thank you.
 
Hi-
I'm a new Christian struggling with this sinful world like everyone else.

Please forgive me if I seem a bit rough. I am really having trouble hearing about all of these "plans" that people say are in store for us. I do not mean to be disrespectful to God, I'm just frustrated. It seems like every broken heart, every devastated life, every crushing problem can be explained away by saying there is a plan for you.

If your life is in ruin, and the walls are closing in, is there ALWAYS a plan waiting for you??? I mean how long do you have to wait for the plan to execute? 20 years?, 40?, on your deathbed?? Some people seem to fall all the way down and die after a bad life. What was their plan?? Is it possible that some events are a result of things just happening and human error??

I have been struggling for 40+ years and have yet to feel a plan in action. Just being honest.
Thanks for listening.

Good afternoon
Based on the truth of His Words, God is not taking your troubles, struggles, frustration as disrespectful. He sees it as a point of turning to Him for answers to all these things that are coming your way. Believe me , you are in good company if you have accepted Christ as your Lord and savior.

Now as His child, he wants you to take all these issues to Him, then start spending personal one on one time with Him to know how much he loves you in spite of all what is going on. I would say any and everything that goes on with us as believers that is not good does come from God, so the plan I will want you to rely on is a living plan from Him. His plan is not a feeling, it is truth and that truth is found when all of us as new Ch ristians or old Christians keep our focus on Jesus Christ

You open honesty is a confession of your challenges and now He want you to come unto Him for the solution that is not depending on what you do but He is able to do. The process has started and will take time to begin to realize that He is able to show you His plan. The plan for a building is on paper, so is the plan for you life on the pages of scripture. If the builder does not read the plan, he would not know how to build. If you do not read the love letter from God addressed you will miss His plan for you. Hope this starts making some sense to you. God bless
 
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