Do you find yourself anxious wondering about the direction of your life? Will your life matter? Will you have made a difference? The Lord promises to work out your life plan.
Scripture: Psalm 138:8
The Lord will work out his plans for my life— for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever.
Don’t abandon me, for you made me.
Trusting God with Your Life Plan
Like in many places in scripture, Psalm 138 reminds that the Lord makes our life plan. Proverbs 20:24 says “The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?” This doesn’t mean adopt a fatalist mindset where we don’t concern ourselves with the future because it’s going to all pan out. But it does tell us to stop worrying about the future.
If your life journey is anything like mine, you have traversed several streams in your life journey and more crossings lie ahead. It’s rare anymore for someone to have one career for 30 or 40 years. And even within such a career, the path can be long and winding. So what gives us hope in the midst of this precarious journey? The confidence that God is the one weaving together our life plan. He’s sovereign, in control.
Psalm 138 reminds us of two important things about God: first, we can trust him because he loves us with an eternal love. His love will never be withdrawn nor can it be escaped. His love is so intense that he was willing to sacrifice his most valuable treasure–his son, Jesus– to purchase our redemption. The second thing we see is the psalmist reminding God that he made us, therefore he implores God to not abandon or forsake us.
Sometimes our life journey might feel like God abandoned us or left us to our preferences. When you start to feel that way, return to the eternal promises of God. Romans 8:38-39 is an anchor for us in the stormy seas of life on this earth:
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
One of my favorite songs is Lifesong by Casting Crowns.
As you consider your life plan, I would encourage you to read Michael Hyatt’s Living Forward. 
Prayers for Today
Self: Lord, I confess that there are days when I doubt you know what’s happening in my life. It seems you have left the destiny of my life in my hands and that scares me. Thank you for the promises that you will never abandon me and moreover that you are indeed controlling and steering the direction of my life. Teach me to listen and follow your directions, starting today.
Family: As I walk through the valleys of uncertainty, increase my faith and trust so that I might provide security and confidence to my wife and children. Show me ways to teach my family the same things I need to learn. When the dark times come, may our eyes turn first and only to you.
Work: There may be no place where this confusion over who’s in control of my destiny comes into play than in my work and career. I trust you today, God, with my plans and future. Help me to give my best efforts in everything that I do, including planning for the future. But also give me the deep security that comes from trusting that you direct and oversee all the forces that I try to anticipate and predict.
Church: May we be a church that prays deeply and often for your profound guidance and direction. Deepen the faith and spiritual insight of our pastor(s) and leaders. I pray we would have a regular and even constant awareness of the depth of your love for us.
Community: As neighbors and friends face tragedy (premature death, storms, etc.) give me words to say and ways to act that give true consolation and hope. Even when I myself am speechless and overwhelmed by the same devastation, I pray for a deep-seated hope and confidence that can provide comfort and point the aimless toward your loving arms.