Plan A is always my first choice..
the one where everything works out.
But more often than not,
I find myself dealing with
the upside down version
where nothing goes as it should.
It’s at this point the real test
of my character comes in…
Do I sink or do I swim?
Do I wallow in self-pity
or do I simply shift gears and
make the best of the situation?
The choice is mine.
Life really is all about how you handle Plan B.
~Suzy Toronto
So do you have a Plan B you’re living with? What lessons have you learned in the process?
God really will take care of everything! Not that I can sit back and not do anything, but that I don’t need to fret about every little thing.
Life does not end, just because I have had to shift from Plan A to Plan B. It’s simply a new journey.
I am not a failure, nor my husband, nor anyone else, because we had to go with Plan B. It’s been part of God’s plan this whole time and God does not fail us.
And lastly, God really will work all things for good when we trust Him and follow where He leads, even when the road is rough, the skies are dark, and we don’t really want to walk that path!
As one friend pointed out to me, Dont panic when plan A falls thru, God gave us 25 other letters! Plan A is a nice to have, but plan B can be a lot more fun!
I love this! Thank you for sharing, Suzette!
It seems like I am always on plan B. Having a son with autism makes having a plan B almost a necessity these days. I am kind of a control freak, but our son has allowed me to let go of some of that. Weve learned that we have to be flexible, patient and to just go with flow when we arrive on plan B. I am so thankful for plan B because it shows me that God is ultimately in control and has a far better plan than anything I could come up with on my own.
I also have a son (27) on the Autism spectrum…Life has always been plan B for us as well…. But isn’t everyone’s?
I am a planner. I feel better when I have a check list of my daily activites- just to make sure I dont forget anything. However, rarely am I able to complete my daily duties because of the unexpected events that present themselves. One child needs a bandaid and a kiss on a boo boo. Another child needs some one on one time. And a third needs help with making Valentines. All things I did not have scheduled in my day- but, things that immediately make their way to the top of my priorities. Just the same as the derailing of daily duties- often my Bigger Plans are also reprioritized.
I did not expect to have 2 babies in 12 months. But, God had a plan for me. I did not expect for the housing market to crash just as our home building business was taking off. But, God had a plan for me. Every time my plan has changed and I have felt lost or off center, God has had a plan for me. Sometimes it has taken a long time for Gods plan to unfold. We had a house for sale, and made 2 house payments, for 4 years. OUCH. However, God has never failed me. And I know He never will.
I have learned to trust in Gods plan and to trust that my plan B is often His plan A!
I am living in plan B (or C or D, I’ve lost count). Living in a place I didn’t plan, with 2 kids and being a mostly at home mom which was definitely not in my top 10 plans, but God has been good and 3 years after the big changes that brought us here I’m appreciating God’s plan not just for my family but for bringing me to a point where I can be real with what I love to do not just what would be a job with long term stability or money or status. But realizing that I love writing, speaking, and mentoring and that I perform and feel my best when I’m engaged in one of those things…and all future endeavors (career or otherwise) need to include those, even if it s just on a “hobby” level.
I used to consider myself a Plan A type of girl….I would get so down on myself and others for falling back on Plan B. i learned that my Plan A isn’t everyone’s Plan A, I had to compromise. I eventually learned to go with the flow, any plan is OK with me as long as we are in it with GOD!
I fought for a very long time for my Plan A (the ability to conceive). After many years it became clear that our path would be Plan B (surrogacy). It took a BIG change of heart, a number of huge miracles, an amazing friend and a faithful God. Our Plan B brought us our precious Boy and continues to bring us so many other Blessings, I wouldn’t even know where to begin to talk about them. I do not think our lives would be as full and rich today if my Plan A had succeeded. (And I even kept a blog about our journey to parenthood and guess what the name was? Plan B. 😉 ). I think the biggest lessons I learned are that God can change your heart if you let Him and He really does want the best for us, even if the best/Plan B is difficult. Difficult can be (and usually is) very rewarding. 🙂
Oh, my word! My teens and young adult kids definitely have their Plan A which translates into my Plan B. God has shown me that His work in their lives (and in me) could not have been accomplished in my Plan A. He is teaching me to trust Him as He works in Plan B.
I confirm what these other women have written. Have faith that God still has a plan and that His plans cannot be thwarted. So whatever letter we get to in our own thinking, just trust that God is working His PERFECT plan. 🙂
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV)
Also….God doesn’t have plan B…they’re all Plan A…. God already knew the plan…
Jeremiah 29:11
I know where you are coming from. A few years ago I was introduced to Neil Anderson’s ministry. His books are about Freedom in Christ and he talks about how we live in Plan B, but God does not have a plan B. We cannot control someone choosing a different plan, but I have learned even when someone else’s actions affect me, I am still on God’s plan A. I know this doesn’t sound like it makes sense, but I really suggest reading his books. This is described in detail in either the Bondage Breaker or Victory over the Darkness. It is great material as so often when we go through trials we begin to believe lies that later end up defining us. Blessings to you, I have walked where you are and am praying for you.
Theresa, I am familiar with Neil Anderson’s books…thank you for the reminder…it’s time to pick them up again.
I just read this the day after a huge blog post about our PLAN B. With 5 kids and a hubby on the road, We have had to make some tough choices…one of which is me going back home full-time for a while after spending 4 years building my sucessful photography business. It is funny how even when you are following your PLAN A, sometimes you know that PLAN B might be God’s plan and you need to rethink things a little… http://dreamcatcherroad.com/blog/?p=571
I am so thankful for this post and that God directed me to it tonight. I needed to read these words. Thank you to all of you faithful women who commented and left your thoughts. This morning due to an injury we hit a plan B. I am not good at “simply shifting gears”. I have a big tendency to “wallow in self pity”. I need to serve with gladness, love and joy and not get down about our circumstances. Our life is very, very good and most importantly, God is in control! He knew what our day would look like even though I did not and it is not wrong. Kelly