Life is funny and sometimes the plans we have for it work out differently than what we had hoped. I am someone who dreams big and when I want something I work hard to achieve it. I also am extremely meticulous and detail oriented, so in the past when things didn’t go according to plan, I got frustrated. This typically led to me working at it relentlessly until I was banging my head against a wall that wasn’t going to budge.
Eventually I learned that this life isn’t just about my own personal success. When I looked in the mirror, I realized it was about my plan, not God’s plan for my life. Sometimes God will flip the script on your life to get you understand that when you focus on the needs of others, He will take care of your needs and typically give you more blessings than you ever imagined.
Here are three pointers to think about when your plans are not going according to what you expected.
Be Willing to Pivot
When you flip the script on something you are making the decision to move on and be willing to do it differently. Sometimes you need to take a step back or pivot to something else, so you can make forward progress. This can be hard because of all the hard work you have already put in, but this doesn’t mean you have to start completely over. Learn from your mistakes and take what you’ve learned into the new route you are on. The most important thing is to get to your destination. Sometimes the path has a few more turns than you thought and takes a little longer than expected. Remember the goal is to get there.
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”
Proverbs 16:3, NIV
Stay Positive
Easier said than done, right?! I get it and the guy writing this article was his own worst enemy. I held myself to such a high standard that my expectations were virtually unattainable. Therefore, I was always beating myself up. Eventually I coached with a guy named Jon Huizinga who was super positive. So much so I thought it was fake and he drove me a little bit nuts. However, after spending years with him I realized it was genuine and he truly meant what he said. He saw the good in others even when they didn’t see it themselves and continually pumped up their tires by speaking life into them.
Being around Jon literally changed the way I spoke to players and eventually people in general. Instead of saying “don’t worry about that” I would say “focus on this”. It’s the same message but worded in a positive way. When things are difficult search for the positive in them and give that positive thing 100% of your attention. It is the 101% principle that has been taught by another John that has been a big influence in my life, John Maxwell. Even though I haven’t met this John yet, his teaching principles have changed the way I go about my everyday life.
Expect to be Blessed
One thing that really aggravates me is when something goes wrong, and people say things like “well what did you expect” or “this happens all the time”. That is a terrible attitude to have. Yeah, life can be tough, but when you are not surprised when things don’t go right for you then you are expecting a negative outcome. That is crazy! God wants to bless you and we are going to go through hard times. The mindset has to be “Thank God that I am going through this, because I am going THROUGH IT!” Remember that you will be blessed on the other side of adversity. During that long winter the snow will eventually melt, and God will restore you!
We need to pray the Prayer of Jabez over our lives and believe that God will bless us. He has a storehouse of blessings waiting for you. It’s ok to pray specifically and believe that God will answer. It has happened in my own life, and I remember the first time I prayed specifically back in March 2006. God answered the prayer exactly down to the smallest details! It was crazy at the time, and I was blown away because I could see His fingerprints all over my situation. That was a huge landmark in my life.
Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.”
1 Chronicles 4:10 NIV
The 2024 Baseball Season
This year I was very fortunate to manage a group of special men up in Northern California. The Yolo High Wheelers were an expansion team and the 12th member of the Pioneer League. There were numerous situations throughout the season we were faced with that would have broken weaker men, but the players banded together like brothers. It seemed like every time adversity reared its head, they grew stronger. The coaching and front office staff worked hard, stayed positive throughout the season, and we all bonded through our difficult circumstances.
Before the team was officially announced in late January we were referred to as “Team 12”. As time went on some people continued to call us that even after the High Wheelers name came out. We were an afterthought by many and few if anyone outside of our clubhouse expected us to be relevant in the league. What people didn’t know is the character and talent of the men on our team. We took on the moniker of “Team 12” and we flipped the script on what people in the league thought would happen. At the end of the season our guys were spraying each other down with champaign and engraved on the inside of their Championship Rings will be the name Team 12.
God will never leave you or forsake you. He has blessings waiting for you no matter how high the odds are stacked against you. Remember that God plus you is majority so believe in the plan He has for life and be prepared to fight and persevere for what you love.
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