Why God’s Plan Never Falters—Even When Yours Does

Another Christmas Day has come and gone. I hope you and your family had a wonderful holiday season. But I wonder—was it everything you planned for?

Maybe you didn’t get the gift you really wanted. Maybe a family member couldn’t make it after all. Perhaps the cookies didn’t turn out quite right, or a cherished tradition was dismissed by the rest of the family.

For us, this was the second year in a row our extended family was sick.

This year hurt a little more because my wife and I were supposed to host the annual family Christmas Eve Party at our house. We had started planning the menu, coordinating schedules, cleaning the house (well talking about it anyway), and even deciding whether the dogs would stay upstairs or join the party.

It was exciting to see the sparkle in my wife’s eyes as she thought it all through. Then, we got word that one family member was sick.

At first, we didn’t worry—there was still plenty of time before Christmas Eve. But then another family member fell ill. Doubt crept in. The same day, we heard about a third.

Another message came in with another family member deciding not to attend, likely out of concern for their own health.

So, we postponed the party. And to be honest, it’s been disappointing.

Even now, as I write this, I’m not sure how everything will play out. Thankfully, everyone is on the mend, but the uncertainty still lingers.

I am a planner, and I know opinions about planning vary. But I’m confident that everyone plans to some degree—and we all feel the sting of disappointment when things don’t go as expected.

In moments like these, I’m reminded that God’s plan never changes. While those waiting for the Messiah had different expectations about what He would do, they knew He was coming.

Throughout the Bible, God clearly shows us His plan to rescue us from sin and restore our relationship with Him. That plan has always been, and always will be, Jesus.

1 Peter 1:18-21 says:

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.”

Peter wrote this to Christians—Jews and Gentiles—living in a culture with values vastly different from their own. He reminded them to persevere through suffering and live in honor of Jesus, finding hope in His person and sacrifice.

It’s striking to consider how first-century Jews misunderstood who the Messiah would be and what He would do. We often scoff, assuming we wouldn’t have made the same mistake. But haven’t we?

We’ve labeled Jesus as just a teacher, a prophet, a historical figure, or even a fairy tale. But how we answer the question of who Jesus is changes not just our life but our eternity.

God’s plan has always been Jesus. Nothing else.

So, when our own plans fall apart, I encourage you to remember that God’s plan never falters. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever—constant and unchanging.

This truth gives us confidence to persevere and hope even in the midst of chaos, especially when that chaos disrupts our plans.

Anyway, I was just thinking…