Is it possible to see God’s blueprints for us? How does trouble fit into those plans?
Years ago, I had a chance to manage a project to build a computer lab for the engineers at our company.
I was an engineering program manager and knew zilch about building a standing structure — I still need reminding whether to turn left or right to loosen a screw — but, the higher ups thought I could get a team from point A to B decently.
So, one day, I walked out of my boss’ office, with marching orders to meet with the lead architect and contractor to talk shop. I returned to my desk, struck with fear, and took my quarters to the vending machine for some chocolate relief.
At my kick-off meeting with an all male team of contractors, electricians, manufacturing vendors, and architect, I was petrified. As I sat there, at the table, all five feet of me sitting up as straight as I could, I unrolled the set of master blueprints and dove in with a prayer.
I had to laugh and chuckle at jokes I had no idea what they were about. I’m sure I provided plenty of entertainment for everyone that day. There was little pride left in me by the time we were done.
But, we got ‘er done.
As long as I returned to the blueprints, the guys were with me.
Where’re My Blueprints?
If only my life had a blueprint like that. Sure, I know God has the blueprint.
But, I don’t.
Every time I think I got it sorta figured out — what I’m supposed to be doing and how I can do it with a degree of joy, peace, and trust — it eventually comes.
Trouble.
Don’t get me wrong. I totally live it up and squeeze out the good times when they come my way. But, I know, life doesn’t stay that way. At least, not on this side of heaven.
The Trouble With Trouble
Some say part of God’s blueprints includes trouble, that God uses trouble to grow us and make us stronger. I do understand that to some extent. God says His strength in us grows when we tire and grow weak.
Maybe I’m splitting hairs when I say this… I don’t totally think that God puts trouble into our plans.
I think God does His work in spite of the trouble.
When God designed us and our lives, I believe He accounted for the problems we’d come across — whether they come from us, others or events that happen to us.
I view trouble, not so much as an ingredient in the blueprint.
Trouble is in the list of risks and environmental life factors that God took into account, when He constructed our blueprints.
His plan for us is to succeed, so that we can can stand up to the weight and fall of natural “life” disasters and stresses.
We are hard pressed on every side,but not crushed;
perplexed, but not in despair;
persecuted, but not abandoned;
struck down, but not destroyed.
2 Cor 4:8,9
God has the blueprint for my life. But, I think it’s more of a blueprint for who He wants me to become, rather than what I’m actually doing.
Sometimes what I do matches with who He wants me to be, but it doesn’t always happen.
I’ve had to do things that are a part of putting food on the table or taking care of life. These activities don’t have to change who I am inside. There is life outside of our day jobs and even outside our troubles.
It takes place with our loved ones, our friends, and those we help. And don’t forget those wonderful everyday hobbies and pleasures we take comfort and joy in.
They are part of God’s blueprint, too.
How do you see God’s blueprint taking form in your life?
How do you view trouble or conflict in everyday life — and God’s plan for you?
[Today’s post was inspired by Laura Boggess’ wonderful Blueprint post at High Callings Blog ].
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37 Comments
Wonderful thoughts, Bonnie! I think you are right. Somedays, I feel I’m following the plan, well on my way to being the girl He desires me to be. But alas, it never seems to last for long! I think I have Blueprint dyslexia. He holds the life of Jesus up before me as my guide. I will keep striving as long as I have breath, but, thankfully, I don’t have to be perfect.
Very thoughtful post.
.-= laura´s last blog ..When the Answer is No =-.
Blueprint dyslexia… Another great word picture for the life of faith… on this side of heaven.
Wow…great thoughts on trouble. To be honest I do struggle with thoughts of blaming God for the troubles sometimes. But I always come back to His goodness and faithfulness and realize they are for my good. I guess I never thought of blueprints as God’s plan and that He takes into account the problems and troubles, but that they weren’t necessarily the main thing…it’s who I am becoming…not so much what I’m going through. Good food for thought to ponder on today! (I hope I am becoming what God intended and that I’m not letting Him down. I often resist His workings in and through the trials and constantly ask Why?)
I love your honesty because it’s what we all feel and think during tough turns in our story. We know how God wants us to be — but, we are in process – and it is comfort and assuring to know we are not alone.
That verse (2 Cor 4:8,9) always reminds me of the praise song, “Trading My Sorrows”
.-= Debbie {50centlove}´s last blog ..Asparagus – don’t judge! =-.
Great post lady. I love the analogy of God having the blueprints. Well said. It is great (and at times frustrating) on our side, we see the foundation and structure but will not see the finished product until He is done with us. And we cannot skip steps! We take it one brick at a time, so to speak. Well done my friend.
p.s. Hey, I commented this time:)
.-= Mariah´s last blog ..The Battle Before Acceptance =-.
Exactly. This is what real life looks like… frame, bones, and structure… while we see one brick at a time… I’m happy your voice is here this time 😉
I just found you today and was so moved by these words. I am just coming out of a dark season when blueprints would have been so useful! But if He had put me here with a schematic of my life, I would never have seen him as the Wonderful Counselor…I may have seen him as a puppet master instead. Indeed, He has plans for me, but He also made me to think for myself, to choose Him and His ways in faith rather than having no choice but to serve Him. I come to Him by choice. Joyfully.
.-= April´s last blog ..After God’s own heart. =-.
Ah-ha! Can I get a witness! 🙂 Yes. This is the way of faith. I’m so encouraged by your experience, April.
“God has the blueprint for my life. But, I think it’s more of a blueprint for who He wants me to become, more than what I’m actually doing.” Amen! I absolutely agree with you. Sometimes we can get so caught up in the whole “what is God’s will for my life?” thing and we forget that He has already laid it out for us in His word. God’s will is that we become more like Christ – how that takes shape is going to be different for everyone!
.-= Kevin M.´s last blog ..Who is part of your support network? =-.
It’s a balancing act. We have the thirst and hunger to make a difference… but, can we trust ourselves and God, in the middle of the “taking shape”? There’s the rub. We can help carry each other in the middle.
Bonnie, this post is right on! Lately, I feel as though the spiritual journey is totally how a house is built. I’m working on or I should say letting God work on the structure in me and in the plans. It’s tough going but my life verse has always been Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.
It’s a constant series of letting go. The biggest challenge lately is not so much goals and such but “what are my values” often times the value underneath that we didn’t think of is the very turning point. For example, I chose today to value “wellness” and realized wow, I need to value myself. All of a sudden wellness is understood and becomes a natural part of the plan. So, I think it is definitely about aligning with God’s plan because he has the Greater View from the Balcony,.. we just see one angle. Lovely post! Thanks for sharing! ~Sharmila
.-= Sharmila´s last blog ..Top Ten Passions: Randomness Surfacing =-.
I am really with you on the pitfalls of “goals”. Wellness is a good one to focus on — it leads to so many important facets of our wellbeing. Letting go … change is not easy, but it helps to know if we can do it, we have room to embrace something else.
This…
“God has the blueprint for my life. But, I think it’s more of a blueprint for who He wants me to become, rather than what I’m actually doing.”
I think so, yes.
.-= L.L. Barkat´s last blog ..Loving Monday: Blueprints? =-.
Our Father tells us that all our days are written in a book before there is one of them. That’s because He knows and sees all; everything, all at the same time, always, because He lives where there is no time or outside of it. He also tells us He knows what we will do or say before we say or do it. He tells us He is sovereign and in control of all.
While my hubby is not around, I place on the table two items and tell you that he will pick the mashed potatoes and leave the stuffing alone. My hubby comes in to the room and does pick the potatoes, leaving the stuffing. Did I make him choose the potatoes? Was not the choice all his? The only bearing on his choice I had was giving him the two items to choose from. I could have not put out the stuffing. He still would choose the potatoes. The only way to prevent him from choosing the potatoes would be to not put them on the table in the first place or have fed him before hand so that he’d be too full to eat any more. I know this through the experience of being married to him for 35 years…my hubby loves mashed potatoes and does not like stuffing; no way, no how.
It is the same with our Father. He knows us so well that He knows the choices we will make in every situation. The only way He affects our choosing is by presenting the choices to us. He does not MAKE us choose our choices, not any more than I made my hubby choose his choice. He knows us fully, much more so than I know my hubby. Our Father tells us that before the foundations of the earth was laid, He chose us to be comformed to the image of His Son. So, yes, He has a blueprint for who He wants us to become.
ALSO, He is actively, intimately involved with every aspect of our lives in every minute detail because He LOVES us totally. In His sovereignty, He arranges all the circumstances in our lives and uses all the choices we make to form us into His Son’s image…the good and the bad. He uses all things (good or bad) for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. It is through the choices we make that we are formed into the image of His Son. He is talking about Jesus’s character, not His appearance. FatherGod is forming in us joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, and love that does not envy or boast; is not proud, rude, or self-seeking; is not easily angered and keeps no record of wrongs; does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth; a love that always protects, trusts, hopes, perseveres, and never fails by every choice we make in every moment of every day.
What an awesome Father we have Who loves us so completely, intimately that neither trouble nor hardship, persecution nor famine or nakedness or danger or sword, neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present, past, or future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation can separate us from His love!!! Since He is for us, who can be against us?
I see an open hand and on the palm a small pebble. Things can come and affect the pebble until the hand closes up. Then nothing can get to the pebble without the hand allowing it. I am the pebble and the hand belongs to my Father. I can trust His hands for I am engraved on the palms of them.
Wow, Cathleen. You definitely have a testimony!
It would be so nice for a laid out map. Then life altering decisions could be made with hindsight in mind. Great post, Bonnie!
oh and “Righty – tighty, lefty – loosey”… 🙂
.-= Brett Barner´s last blog ..Through Aged Eyes: A Plea for Nursing Home Ministries =-.
Thanks, Brett!;)
I don’t necessarily agree that everything is mapped out for us as some suggest. There is a general plan, yes, but lots of room for customizitin and modification. That’s the stuff we call ‘life’. Wonderful post.
David, “The Kingdom of Me” http://www.redletterbelievers.com
.-= David @ Red Letter Believers´s last blog ..Seek first the kingdom of me =-.
We should talk more about those mods & customization. I smell a post brewing… 🙂
That he accomplishes his plans in the midst of trouble, yes! That he redeems our pain, yes? That he has a blueprint, yes!
.-= Cassandra Frear´s last blog ..To Write or Not to Write? =-.
[…] Bonnie’s Anyone Seen My Blueprints? […]
Bonnie, you are such an encouragement and a constant source of light in our Lord! I’m so happy to see you made the top 100!
Thank you, Victoria! It brought a smile to my heart.
I guess sometimes I wish I could more clearly see the blueprints for my life. I think God knows that it’s best I don’t. 🙂
I’m thankful that since I’m not in charge of them, I ultimately can trust the One who is. Over and over again, He is teaching me to trust Him. One blueprinted step at a time.
.-= Christine´s last blog ..Heart of Maturity =-.
Trust – it’s a daily work.
Dear Bonnie,
Thank you for your post. I do believe that God has a blueprint for our life and that when trouble inevitably hits us He is there to work in us and draw us closer to Him. A couple of weeks ago I had some confusing medical test results which were a great worry. I have two teenage daughters and I was so concerned that I would not be here for them growing up. So many verses of Scripture helped me such as “Don’t be anxious about anything , tell God your needs and He will give you His peace that passes all understanding,” and many verses about God keeps His promises, His plans for you are good, His perfect love casts out fear. Psalm 91 was so precious. In all honesty I couldn’t cope with waiting for the next results alone but every day God gave me a verse to keep trusting Him. He truly was my Strength in my weakness. Praise God at a final test everything was clear and I was pronounced a healthy, young woman! Every promise God gave me over those weeks proved true. All the times He told me to trust Him, helped me through. Through that difficult time I felt God’s love and knew that He was with me.
His blueprint for me allowed those circumstances and His Words given to me and His love and care for me are so precious. Reminds me of Joseph speaking to his brothers, “You meant it for evil but GOD meant it for good.” Also, we read continually of Joseph, “God was with him.”
What a wonderful God we have!
Sarah, thank you for sharing!
God has the blueprint for my life. But, I think it’s more of a blueprint for who He wants me to become, rather than what I’m actually doing.
oh how this resonated in my spirit…..Who I am becoming..yes…
Alright!
I’d like to add a footnote to the following point:
“I don’t totally think that God puts trouble into our plans.
I think God does His work in spite of the trouble.”
While I agree completely with the thought that God would not bring affliction to us, I think he does ask us to make difficult choices and to pass through hard times as a result of them. I don’t know how that all works out exactly, but Paul, for instance, was told point blank that he would be arrested in Jerusalem, but he also knew he had to go. In other words, God asks us to pass through hard times even if he’s not necessarily the source of the hard times, and he will not abandon us.
Thanks for tackling such a tough topic with such grace.
Ed, this is REALLY good point to add. I like the way you made your case. It is a very balanced view about grace in troubled times. It’s important to give credibility to the cost of following Christ.
I appreciate how you put in context of following Christ.
This is in contrast to someone who is going through a tough problem and being told, “This happened because God wanted you to learn something from it.”
Awesome addition to this post and discussion. Thank you!
[…] over at Faith Barista has some great thoughts from the past week about where trouble fits into God’s plans. It’s quite a controversial topic, […]
[…] apparently touched on a controversial question when I wrote “Anyone Seen My Blueprints?“. It triggered some pretty awesome conversation in the […]
I used to be in a construction job and I knew blueprints pretty well. Funny thing is no matter how detailed they were made there were always surprises along the way. When the unknowns appeared the solution was always to keep the big picture in mind; not get lost in the details. So you sweat through a few unhappy meetings and work some overtime, but in the end the building is finished according to the design of its creator. Sounds a little like life to me.
[…] Barista to share their stories of rejection. We have also been exploring the whole notion of God’s blueprints for our lives and trying to grapple with why He allows […]
your blog have blessed me so much and help me in my spiritual journey 🙂 may God give you more wisdom and bless u more 🙂