God's Strength When Your Plans Fall Apart
The deadline had passed to turn in writing this devotional. With one day late already, I cleared my calendar and mapped out an entire afternoon to finish it.
Then a close friend of mine called. Her voice cracked on the phone as she said, “I really need help.”
I sympathized with her, as I knew she had spent years taking care of her husband who had suffered several strokes. As you might imagine, I had a tough choice to make because of my writing commitment; plus I was exhausted from other personal trials.
Thankfully, several days prior, I heard Rich Cook’s 1987 song “It Brings Me Strength.” His words of praising the Lord in hard times blessed that morning’s quiet time. And in this situation, they resurfaced. I knew that I needed an attitude of praise to the Father. It would get me through and give me strength to carry out God’s will. My plans for the day needed to redirect. So I told my friend, “Yes, I’ll be right over.”
It made me think of Jesus’ conversation with Peter.
In Luke 22:31-32, Jesus told him, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”
With bravado, Peter declared, “Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you, and even to die with you” (Luke 22:33). His heart and mind were set on following Jesus no matter what.
Jesus then responded, “Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me” (Luke 22:34).
Despite his bold assertion, Peter did deny the Lord three times;. In his humanness, the trauma of the events was too great, and Peter was not able to carry out his plans. He needed more than his own convictions. He needed God’s power, faith, and focus.
On a much less intense scale than Peter’s, my plans had not turned out like I thought. But I knew God had a greater purpose for me that day. And like Peter, I needed God’s strength to help my friend in need. As I worshiped Him that afternoon, His strength helped me become the support she needed.
Since you are reading this, you can see that helping my friend that day didn’t eliminate this devotional from the publishing plan. Nor did Peter’s denial of even knowing the Lord that night prevent him from receiving Jesus’ love, forgiveness, and restoration.
May we recognize that our true strength comes from relying on God’s divine power instead of ourselves.
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Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
