Everyone prepares to travel differently.
Some of us pack a week early with lists; others throw things in a bag the night before. These opposites often marry each other—I know because my wife is the first and I'm the second! Whether planners or procrastinators, we all have expectations about how life will unfold. Perhaps we set specific goals. Some of us have a schedule. Others look ahead to milestones.
Yet God often works in ways that look nothing like our plans. When life takes a turn and we begin a detour away from our expectations, we protest and pray. We ask God why He is allowing such things to happen to us. We wonder if we've somehow sinned and this experience is punishment for our unfaithfulness.
In the midst of our confusion, however, there is another way to view our circumstances. This alternative perspective is summed up well in Elevation Rhythm's song, "I Was, But God." The chorus offers us a four-word framework to see our testimony through as we look back and look ahead.
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"I was drowning
But I'm dancing
Now I was, but God
But God had a different plan"
The chorus reminds us of the truth within Isaiah 55: "My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the Lord. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."
There are so many ways I could fill in those blanks in my own life - "I was ____________, but God _____________________." For instance, I was arrogant, but God humbled me. I was bitter, but God healed me. I was anxious, but God calmed me.
I'm sure there are many ways you could fill those blanks, too. Part of the power of "I Was, But God" is present in the reminder that God's plans are always better than our own. God is more committed to our good and His glory than we are.
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Josh Holiday and Nate Diaz from ELEVATION RHYTHM appeared on the Passion Meets Purpose Podcast with Sarah Taylor. Diaz talked about our temptation to try to control life rather than trust God, "We think we have to grow up so quickly. Like, we start trying to be our own little gods — manipulating our lives, controlling everything, thinking we know better. But the truth is, when you just let God be God, He builds something so much better than what you were trying to build."
Diaz's observation reminds me of the promise of Ephesians 3, where Paul wrote, "Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think."
Holiday shared how a difficult season led him to a profound experience of God's grace. After struggling with feeling like he'd failed God, he encountered something unexpected: "I remember I was in this dark place, man. I thought God was mad at me. I thought He was disappointed. I thought I messed up too much. And all He said to me — I didn't hear correction, I didn't hear disappointment — I just heard Him say, 'I love you.' And that broke me, man. That changed everything."
When our plans fall apart and God's plan continues to work out, especially in different ways than we anticipated, we can struggle with feeling out of control. What if our plan was about control when God is inviting us to surrender and trust?
As ELEVATION RHYTHM sings, my own testimony involves God opening my eyes to show me that He didn't love me for my perfectionist tendencies, but rather He loved me because I was made in His image and I am His beloved son. It's that testimony that has always drawn me to the lyrics of the hymn, Amazing Grace. A modern arrangement of the hymn forms the bridge of "I Was, But God," reinforcing the message of grace working in our lives as part of God's plan.
Life rarely goes according to our plan. You may be trying to adjust as life went off script for you recently. The hope for all of us in moments like that is that despite life departing from our plan, it never deviates from God's plan. If you're struggling with the gap between yours and God's plan today, then I encourage you to do two things.
First, use the "I was ______________, but God ____________________" framework to review how God has moved in your life in the past. Praise Him for what you discover!
Second, listen to "I Was, But God" and meditate on the words as you seek to surrender what God is doing in the middle of your detour!
How comforting it is to remember that we serve a God who can accomplish more than we imagine, even more than our best plans.
Scott Savage is a pastor, author, and speaker with the best last name in the world. Scott’s writing helps people transform difficult circumstances into places where they can thrive. He leads Cornerstone Church in Prescott, Arizona, and loves watching movies with his wife and three kids. You can begin Scott’s life-changing project, The 21 Day Gratitude Challenge, today.
