You had a plan.

Maybe it was a plan for your marriage. Your career. Your kids. Your ministry. You mapped it out, prayed over it, believed God for it — and then life happened, and none of it looked the way you drew it up.

Here's what I want you to hear today: You're not living outside God's purpose just because you're not living inside your plan.

David's Unbuilt Temple

David had plans. Great ones. He wanted to build the temple — and God said no. Not because David was disqualified, but because God had something more specific in mind. He wanted Solomon to build it. The same Solomon who was born under the most complicated, grief-soaked circumstances imaginable — the son of a woman David never should have had.

And yet. Romans 8:28 wasn't written as a promise despite that. It was written through it.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."— Romans 8:28 (NIV)

Open Hands Aren't Weak Hands

So here's the question that landed on me this week: What is the plan you've been white-knuckling that you need to open your hands and give to him?

It's hard. I know it's hard. Open hands feel like loss. Like surrender. Like giving up on the dream.

But open hands aren't weak hands. Open hands are ready hands.

You can hold the purpose tight. God wants to get glory out of my life. You can be certain about that. But the plan — the specific route, the specific season, the specific outcome you imagined — hold that loosely. Let him build it how he builds it. Let him bring who he wants. Let him remove who he needs to remove.

Because here's what David discovered, and what Solomon understood decades later when he wrote that proverb: the one who got it wrong the most became the father of the one who built God's house.

Sit with this today

What is one plan you've been holding so tightly that you haven't left any room for God to work? What would it look like to open your hand — not give up, just open up?

"In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps."— Proverbs 16:9 (NIV)

Pray this today: Lord, I confess I've confused my plan with your purpose. Today I'm opening my hands. The dream is still there. But I'm releasing the blueprint. You're a better architect than I'll ever be. Build what you want to build. I trust you. Amen.