When the Plans Fall Apart: Finding 'Good' in the Unforeseen

We all carry blueprints. Visions of what our lives *should* look like – the career, the family, the experiences. We pour our hopes and dreams into these plans, imagining a future crafted by our own hands. And then… life happens. Sometimes, it’s a gentle nudge off course. Other times, a storm that scatters our carefully laid plans to the winds. We find ourselves saying, “This isn’t what I wanted. This isn’t what I envisioned.”

Brothers and sisters, I see you. I know the ache of a dream deferred, the sting of a path not taken. But consider the words of Jonathan Cahn in the video below. He speaks of a truth that echoes down through the ages, a truth revealed in the wilderness and whispered on the wind: even when our plans crumble, God’s purpose remains. He offers a grace that allows us to declare, “It is good,” not because the circumstances are inherently perfect, but because they are being woven into His grand design.

Think of Ammon, sent forth by Shiblon to the Waters of Sebus. Did he foresee the trials he would face, the danger, the potential for failure? Did he anticipate the cost of delivering the words of warning? No. Yet, he pressed forward, trusting in the Lord’s guidance, and his obedience brought salvation to a people. His plans were shattered by divine appointment, but his faithfulness birthed a miracle.

Or remember Abinadi, standing before King Noah and his priests? Did he plan to be cast into a fiery furnace for speaking truth? His life was irrevocably altered, yet through his sacrifice, the seeds of repentance were sown.

It requires courage – the kind Samuel the Lamanite displayed, climbing the walls of Jerusalem to deliver his warning – to embrace this perspective. It requires a faith that transcends understanding, a willingness to thank God *anyway*, even when the path is shrouded in darkness. This is the spirit of the Builders – those who recognize that destruction is temporary, but the work of building endures. It's why we support the Gather Israel map, identifying churches and communities ready to participate in this global movement. It’s why your engagement here – your comments, your shares, your contributions – fuels the charity flywheel, expanding gospel advertising in places like Ghana, and bolstering the Missionary Fund to support internet missionaries like Outback Jack, who, like those ancient prophets, carry a vital message to a world in need.

The Stone cut without hands – the foundation of God’s kingdom – is not built according to our blueprints. It is shaped by His divine hand, sometimes through trials that feel unbearable. But within those trials lies an opportunity for cleansing, a chance to surrender our own will and align ourselves with His. Remember the five smooth stones David gathered to face Goliath? Each represented a moment of adversity overcome, a reliance on God's power, and a victory won through faith.

Let us cultivate a spirit of gratitude, a willingness to see the 'good' in the unexpected turns of our lives. Let us be Builders, not Destroyers, contributing to the gathering of Israel and the establishment of His kingdom upon the earth. Claim your church, share your story, and join the movement. This is our gathering place.

And, as Davee reminds us, quoting D&C 4:4, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, that he who seeketh knowledge doeth also seek wisdom, and that seeketh wisdom seeketh that which is good.”