How can we trust God's plan when our own plans seem disrupted? The Setting: Lost Donkeys, Found Direction Saul heads out to hunt for missing donkeys, anxious and confused. By the end of the journey, the donkeys are an after-thought, and Saul is anointed Israel’s first king. What looked like wasted time became the road to God’s larger purpose. Key Verse “As for the donkeys that you lost three days ago, do not worry about them, for they have been found. And to whom does all Israel desire belong, if not to you and all your father’s house?” What God Shows Us When Plans Go Sideways • God is already ahead of the problem: the donkeys “have been found” before Saul even knows it. • God turns small detours into pivotal appointments (Saul meets Samuel). • God reassures in the middle of confusion: “do not worry.” • God’s plan is bigger than our immediate concern—He is positioning Saul for kingship while Saul thinks he’s just chasing livestock. Scripture Echoes That Reinforce This Truth • Proverbs 16:9 – “A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.” • Isaiah 55:8-9 – His thoughts and ways stand higher than ours. • Romans 8:28 – He works all things together for good to those who love Him. • Genesis 50:20 – Joseph: “You intended evil…God intended it for good.” • Psalm 37:23-24 – The steps of the godly are established by the LORD; even if they stumble, they will not fall. Living It Out When Plans Collapse • Remember past faithfulness: list specific times God redirected you for good. • Re-center on His sovereignty: speak aloud truths like Psalm 103:19. • Obey the next clear step: Saul kept searching until God redirected; steady obedience keeps us in position to hear new instructions. • Seek wise counsel: Saul’s servant suggested seeing the prophet; God often guides through others in the body of Christ. • Expect surprises: disruptions may hide divine appointments you can’t see yet. Encouraging Examples Beyond Saul • Joseph: sold as a slave, yet God used the detour to save nations (Genesis 45:7-8). • Ruth: famine, widowhood, relocation—then grafted into Messiah’s lineage (Ruth 4:13-17). • Paul: blocked from Asia, redirected to Macedonia, sparking European missions (Acts 16:6-10). Take-Home perspective When personal plans unravel, God’s plan has not. Lost donkeys, closed doors, abrupt reroutes—none derail His purpose. Trust rests in His proven character: He sees the end from the beginning, works through every disruption, and never wastes a single detour. |
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