When God opposes our plans

Text: Isaiah 55:8–9, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” God’s thoughts are not our thoughts and His ways are not our ways:

‘All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts’ William Shakespeare - All the world's a stage (from As You Like It 2/7)

On a normal day, everyone has an idea or wish as to how they how they want their lives to evolve and eventually end. Consequently, many people the world over have plans, goals and dreams for their lives. Especially at the beginning of each year, this manifests itself in terms of new year resolutions as people chase their life dreams or try to do better in areas they find themselves faltering. This is because our dreams vary from one individual to another and we have the script in our in our minds as to how our time on the stage of life should roll out.

There are times when things seem to be going according to our plans and schedules and we are just going through the motions. Then comes periods with sudden twists and turns. However, there are those other times when it looks like we are disillusioned because we cannot recognise our original story: it has been written all over again and changes all over. Then we ponder why God would wreck our plans for our lives. After all we know what we want and know what is in our best interest right?

However, when we have goals or dreams that will end up destroying us , God steps in to make such plans fail. Often it makes no sense to us; it even looks unfair and unjust. But Isaiah explains in Isaiah 55:8–9, God’s thoughts are not our thoughts and His ways are not our ways: “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

God’s plan is always the best plan or the master plan – even when it is at the expense of our own gameplan.

Examples: =Recently, New York Giants running back David Wilson was given the life-altering news that he would never play football again. The athlete suffers from an acute back problem and was advised by the team’s doctors to leave his career in professional football. While the end of Wilson’s short career made headlines, it’s the way he reacted to the tragic news that really attracted people’s attention.

Wilson explained that he had prayed before he met with the doctors and asked God to put His answer in the mouths of the doctors. Wilson was sure that the doctors’ advice was really God steering his path. This allowed Wilson to experience the shattering of his dreams with faith and grace. In response to the news, he said, “Now I have a chance to dream another dream” and “God has a plan.”

= Cursed By Blessings?

PROVERBS 10:22 KJV

22 The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it. What we may see as a blessing may not always be in our best interest, sometimes they end up destroying us. What we see as the best choice for us may end up being an expensive mistake.

Consider the case of two girls: one extremely beautiful -- the other quite plain looking. Because of her natural beauty, the one becomes totally self-absorbed. Thinking herself superior, she grows haughty and proud, and, although rich and famous, has no true friends.

She selfishly only seeks her own welfare and gives no though to other's desires or happiness. As she grows older and less attractive, she cannot live with not being the center of attention. Lonely and depressed, she finally takes her life. The other girl, not being endowed with any great natural beauty, is not tempted to be proud and haughty. She is forced to develop in other ways. She, being humble, is willing and ready to help others and gains many friends. Because she could not rely on her natural abilities in life, she was forced to turn to God and seek His help. With God's life and love manifesting through her, she was able to marry a godly man, and they raised a fine family together and enjoyed a long and happy life. Which girl was really blessed? Just remember: what you think you want is not always what you would really want. Be thankful for what you have and who you are.

=== Wrong timing

the case of the prodigal son

====wrong Approach

Balaam and the talking donkey

http://www.biblenews1.com/balaam/balaam.htm