Trusting God Without a Backup Plan

“Trusting” God when you’ve already figured out your backup plan isn’t what trust is all about.

Trust happens when there is no backup plan.

I found myself in that situation last week.

For those of you who are new to what we do at DuoParadigms, we love helping nonprofits and small businesses with their graphic design, web design, marketing, and public relations.

Event coordinating falls under public relations, so this past week, we had the pleasure of working with Answers in Genesis during their Equipping Families to Stand conference in Kentucky. They asked us to coordinate a VBS for the kids coming to the conference and we loved working with 60 volunteers and 150 kids from all over the world.

If you have ever worked with a VBS, you know that weather can be a big unknown in your planning. Kids hate being cooped up indoors and we had planned to hold not just the game and snack times outside, but we also planned to stage registration outdoors as well.

Trouble is, it was supposed to storm on Monday.

The forecast predicted storms exactly when we needed to be outdoors, not just during the morning, but also during Monday evening’s session as well.

And because of the small size of the church housing the VBS near the Creation Museum, we couldn’t even wrap our brains around a Plan B.

So Sunday night we collectively did what God has called us to do in times like that.

We prayed and kept moving.

Around 6:30 AM Monday morning I read to our volunteers a few thoughts from the day’s entry of My Utmost for His Highest, which couldn’t have been more relevant as we waited to see what God had in store:

“Jesus is laying down rules of conduct for those who have His Spirit. By the simple argument of these verses He urges us to keep our minds filled with the notion of God’s control behind everything, which means that the disciple must maintain an attitude of perfect trust and an eagerness to ask and to seek.

Notion your mind with the idea that God is there. If once the mind is notioned along that line, then when you are in difficulties it is as easy as breathing to remember — Why, my Father knows all about it! It is not an effort, it comes naturally when perplexities press.

Before, you used to go to this person and that, but now the notion of the Divine control is forming so powerfully in you that you go to God about it. Jesus is laying down the rules of conduct for those who have His Spirit, and it works on this principle — God is my Father, He loves me, I shall never think of anything He will forget, why should I worry?”

Together, we chose to rest in God’s Plan A, no matter what it was. We knew that He would bring wisdom and guidance exactly when we needed it, not ahead of time and never late.

And once again, God was sovereign, the one in control of the weather, and the one with the perfect plan.

The forecast called for thunderstorms, but God blessed us with a day of sunshine—-and He even included a cool breeze.

We knew rain was in the area as Melanie felt a few light raindrops, but God miraculously redirected the rest, giving us a gorgeous day with the kids.

This may seem like a small thing, but it’s the little things that help build our faith for the big things.

I often forget that God has already written my life in eternal ink and my job is to rest in Him as He unfolds His perfect plan.

So this week, we are each likely facing bigger challenges than a rainy day at VBS.

Many of you have business decisions, ministry challenges, and family needs that are pressing heavily on your heart.

May God give you the courage to trust Him for His Plan A and fill you with His peace as you walk forward with Him.