The Best-Laid Plans

Why is it so hard to do the things we intend to do? We create to-do lists and plan our agendas, but the next thing we know, life interrupts.

We fill a particular day with errands—doctor’s appointments, picking up prescriptions, grocery shopping—yet there’s always one more thing we could do before bedtime. Or maybe our loved one falls. The washer quits working. The person providing respite cancels.

Planning ahead is difficult for caregivers. We make our to-do lists, mapping out our days to gain a sense of control over our duties. But the reality is that we don’t have any control—God does.

When all our intentions for the day are turned upside down, what can we do? Why not pause and turn your heart to God in prayer? We can set aside our own agendas and trust Him to show us the way. We can recognize He is in charge of our next steps.

Sure, we should still make plans to accomplish the things that need to be done. But we need to leave enough flexibility in those plans for God’s ultimate direction. He’s the only One who really knows what lies ahead. And He will lead us in our daily steps.