Tugging or Trusting: Following God’s Plan

“I hear the Lord saying, ‘I will stay close to you, instructing and guiding you along the pathway for your life. I will advise you along the way and lead you forth with my eyes as your guide. So don’t make it difficult; don’t be stubborn when I take you where you’ve not been before. Don’t make me tug you and pull you along. Just come with me!’” – Psalm 32:8-9 (TPT)

“So don’t make this difficult.” Oh boy, can I hear God saying that to me!

“Debbie, just chill,” God says. “Relax. I’ve got you. Don’t you know that your days were planned out for you before you drew your first breath?”

Yes, Lord, I hear You. Yes.

But all too often, I find myself tugging against God’s plan for me instead of trusting Him. Why?

Quite frankly, because my idea of accomplishing God’s plan looks like going from glory to glory—from mountaintop to mountaintop.

 

Case in Point

I’m writing this post while sitting in a Barnes & Noble, over nine hours away from home. Why? Because I’m here caring for a sick family member.

Now, don’t get me wrong—I’m happy to be here and grateful to care for my loved one. That’s not the issue. But for a while now, I’ve been praying for more time to write. I’ve told the Lord all the reasons why I need more quiet time, more space with fewer distractions pulling on me.

And here’s where the tugging versus trusting part comes in.

When the situation first arose, requiring me to stay into a second week of caregiving, I tugged against God’s plan. I had so many ministry and work obligations back home, and staying longer seemed impossible.

But when I stopped tugging and started trusting, I realized something profound: While I wouldn’t have chosen this method of creating time for reflection and writing, God knew exactly what He was doing.

Embrace Each Day

This experience reminds me not to view God’s plan for me as so vast and cosmic that I overlook the daily building blocks He provides. Instead, I’m learning to focus on each day within His grand plan and sincerely ask:

   •       How may I better trust You today?

   •       What is Your plan for me today?

When I trust instead of tug, I find that God’s ways are far better than mine. Even in the unexpected, He knows exactly what I need to fulfill His purpose.

What About You?

Are you primarily a Tugger or a Truster? Leave a comment below and let’s talk about it.