The Plan
The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
He delights in every detail of their lives.
Though they stumble, they will never fall,
for the Lord holds them by the hand. Psalm 37:23-24
Thanksgiving is always a time for me to pause and reflect on the year. I think about major opportunities gained and lost. I think about what went well in the family and what challenges I have overcome. It is a great time to both assess what has happened over the past year and reassess what to plan for in the year to come. You might think that is something you do at the beginning of the year, and that is true for me as well. This is not the planning phase. This is the accumulation of the information that will be used for the planning phase. It is part of the plan.
As part of my Thanksgiving reflection on my walk of faith, I am thankful today for God’s plan. While I reflect on all that has happened and need to do, I realize that God always has set the path before me to walk, and even when I deviate, He knows what is needed to get me back on the right path. To have that as a blessed assurance is overwhelming to know. Whether it is good or bad at that moment, I have confidence that it is all part of His plan for my life. Thus, I have joy in knowing God is behind all things that happen in my life.
God’s plan is something we should all be thankful of. Many of us struggle to see God’s plan when the year includes pain, uncertainty, unanswered prayers, or big changes we did not choose. It is easier to thank God when everything is going well. But faith is tested when we discover that God is still working even when we don’t understand what He is doing. We wrestle with questions, confusion, and timing. Yet God invites us to trust not only when the path is straight, but when the road is crooked and the destination is a mystery.
One of the most famous scriptures about plans says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11) This verse reminds us that God’s plan is always motivated by His goodness. Even when Israel was facing hardship, God declared His intention to restore, redeem, and guide them forward. His plan was not reactive. It was hatched long before anyone could see it. Today’s verses affirm this again: “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.” Every detail, not just the successes, but the setbacks too.
Sometimes God’s plan includes delays that build patience, challenges that deepen faith, and closed doors that protect us from something we didn’t see. Our gratitude grows when we recognize that His wisdom exceeds our wants. We only see the moment. He sees the masterpiece. Like Proverbs reminds us, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” (Proverbs 3:5–6) Trust is the foundation for guidance. Direction follows as a result of trust rather than being the precursor of it.
So, as we gather in gratitude, our thankfulness is not only for what God has given, but for what He has guided. Even when we didn’t understand at the time, He was always leading us to a better way. His plan brought us here, and His plan continues. That is a lot to be thankful for! Let us consider the moments this past year that felt confusing or disappointing. Reflect on how God used it to shape you. Then, thank Him not just for what you received but for how He led you. Where do I struggle most to trust God’s timing or direction? Who can I encourage this week by reminding them that God has a plan for their life? My prayer is that we grow in gratitude for God’s wisdom, trusting His plan more than our own understanding. Amen, and Happy Thanksgiving!