Trusting God’s Timing Over Our Own Agenda - iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women - September 21, 2026

Audio By Carbonatix

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” - Proverbs 3:5-6, NLT

The Contradiction Between Our Plans and God’s Plans For Us
We love to make plans, don’t we? Plans for a vacation or plans for a party. When we were younger, some of us may have planned out our lives. We would go to this college, work in this career, get married by this age, and have this many kids. I’m not saying that having goals or timelines is bad; they're good to have. However, it’s important not to get too attached to our own agenda. 

How many times have you heard people say, " I planned to do this with my life, but I wound up doing this?” When I was younger, I wanted to be a journalist, but I never took the leap to finish my journalism degree and make it happen. Instead, I’ve worked various jobs in my life and am now an author. I’m still fulfilling my dream of being a writer, but not the way I initially thought. It’s easy for us to think our plans are better than God’s plans; we’re human. Instead, we need to surrender our plans and goals to God and trust His wisdom.

Understanding Our Human Desire For Control
We all like certainty, comfort, and control in our lives. We like to know what’s coming and have control over the circumstances in our lives. Still, our plans can reflect our fear, pride, and our limited perspective. We can jump into things we shouldn’t out of fear, avoid making changes out of pride, or jump into opportunities with a limited perspective. Even our good intentions can lead to obstacles when they impede our dependence on God. Usually, when something goes wrong in our lives, we are quick to do everything we can to fix it or make things better. However, our good intentions can lead us in the wrong direction rather than waiting on God. 

Understanding That God’s Plans For Us Are Higher and Better
When things aren’t going well, or a crisis occurs, it’s hard to wait on God’s timing rather than take care of things ourselves. What we have to remember is that God has seen all our lives from beginning to end. He knows everything we will go through and the plans He has for us as we go through hard times, crises, and everyday life. Omniscient wisdom, love, and perfect timing shape His plans for us. It’s easy for us to get irritated and frustrated when things don’t go our way, but we remember that the Lord may be protecting us from something, preparing us for something, or redirecting us onto a different path. 

Jesus’s Example
Jesus is a fantastic example of surrendering even in suffering. Before his arrest, Jesus prayed to God in the book of Luke.

“Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” - Luke 22:42, NLT

He knew what was coming and still asked for God’s will to be done. This shows that trusting God doesn’t always remove pain, but gives us purpose and peace. 

Practical Ways to Surrender Our Agendas
If you have trouble surrendering your agenda to God, here are some ways to help you.

• Before you make plans, pray.
• Hold your dreams with open hands.
• Invite God into all your decisions, both big and small.
• Be willing to wait, pivot, or let go.
• Measure success by obedience, not just by outcomes.

Application Questions

• Where in my life am I insisting on my timeline?
• What plan, desire, or expectation do I need to surrender to God?
• How can I trust God today, even if I don’t understand what He’s doing?

Some Words of Encouragement
Even when it’s hard, we need to understand that God’s plan is never second best. He knows what’s best for us and our lives. When we submit our plans to him, we walk in peace, direction, and a deeper faith. After surrendering our plans to Him, our trust grows as we obey one step at a time.

Let’s pray ...

Dear Lord,
You know that I often want my way on my timeline. Help me surrender this to you and trust your wisdom over my understanding. Teach me to surrender my plans to you and to trust that your plans for my life are good. Help me understand that when you deny me something, you’re either protecting me, preparing me, or redirecting me. Give me peace when I can’t see the road ahead and the courage to follow wherever you lead me.
In your name I pray.
Amen.

What truth from today’s devotional is God using to encourage your heart? Share your reflection and join our conversation in the iBelieve Truth Devotional Forum.

Feel like digging a little deeper? Here is a wonderful resource to meet you right where you are. 9 Prayers to Gain a Heart for Heaven + Daily Prayer Journal

 Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/dramalens

Carrie Lowrance is a freelance writer and author. Several platforms, including Crosswalk, iBelieve, Huffington Post, and The Penny Hoarder, have showcased her work. She is also the author of the clean romance series, The Steele Family Saga. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking and baking, reading, and hanging out with her husband and sweet cat, Cupcake. You can find out more about Carrie and her writing at www.carrielowrance.com.

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