This post is a giveaway! Comment below for a chance to win a copy of Rhonda’s new book “Messy to Meaningful!” Ever have your plans fall apart? Or perhaps they took off in a different direction half-way through? Maybe they didn’t line up with your calling. In this guest post, Rhonda Rhea shares how God’s plans always succeed, even in the midst of our “un’s.”
I was a little upset the other day. I ordered a pizza online from my cell phone. And then I found out they wouldn’t even fax it to my house. Really?! Why isn’t there an app for that?
Honestly, sometimes I struggle with technology. Even my smart phone is smarter than I am. The way I know my phone is out of date and it’s time for an update is when I finally figure out how to use it.
Although my tech-savvy children don’t believe me, I’m not completely inept with all of the current technologies. Why, just today I was playing Twitter and I’m pretty sure I won.
Devices and Plans
I was reading in Proverbs 19 the other day, and I had to chuckle a little when I got to verse 21. It says, “There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand,” (Proverbs 19:21 KJV).
“Devices.” Yeah, that got my attention. We have so many devices nowadays. We’ve got an e-this and an i-that. Here an e, there an i—everywhere an app for that.
E, i, e, i-phone.
Really the “devices” in this passage are all about the plans we make on our own. The English Standard Version calls them “the plans in the mind.” Have you ever had a plan in mind that you were all ready to plug in, only to find it wasn’t what the Lord had planned?
In a contest between our plans and His, I know I don’t need to tell you that there is no contest at all. The verse in Proverbs says that it’s His plan that will stand.
Struggling with “un’s”
Understanding that it’s the Lord’s plan and recognizing His call in our lives makes a big difference in those inevitable moments when we feel unworthy of His calling—or unprepared for His plan. Or a thousand other “un’s.”
When Isaiah received his call from God, his response was “woe” and “un.” “Woe is me for I am ruined because I am a man of unclean lips and live among a people of unclean lips, and because my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts” (Isaiah 6:5, HCSB).
The Lord God is the one who prepared Isaiah to fulfill his calling. He brought him all the way from “un” to the sure place of “Here I am. Send me,” (verse 8).
Isaiah was overwhelmed by the blazing holiness of God. That made his own unholiness so painfully, desperately obvious. But the Lord of Hosts took care of Isaiah’s need for cleansing. He readied Isaiah for His call and His plan.
Is there any “un” on your list He can’t take care of? No!
We serve the same Lord of Hosts. He will ready us for our call as surely as He did Isaiah. We don’t even need an app for that.
Though for the record, on the pizza side of the conversation, I’m still thinking my smart phone isn’t all that smart if there’s no pepperoni app.
What devices and plans of your own making have fallen by the wayside recently? What “un” in your life can you allow God to take care of today? (This post is a giveaway! Rhonda is giving away two copies of her new book “Messy to Meaningful!” Comment on this post to enter!)
Rhonda Rhea is a TV personality for Christian Television Network and a humor columnist for great magazines such as HomeLife, Leading Hearts, The Pathway and many more. She is the author of 13 books, including the new release, Messy to Meaningful—Lessons from the Junk Drawer(messytomeaningful.com), co-authored with Bridges TV host, Monica Schmelter, and writing partner and daughter, Kaley Rhea. Rhonda and Kaley have also teamed up for the hilarious Christian 
romantic comedy, Turtles in the Road, with more fun fiction in the works. Rhonda also co-authors the Fix Her Upper series with Beth Duewel. She enjoys speaking at conferences and events coast to coast and serves on the publishing team of Bold Vision Books. She lives near St. Louis with her pastor/hubs and has five grown children.
I would love to win a copy of this book. It sounds like just what I need to read.
Hi Lisa! You are entered!
I would love to win a paperback
Hi Charolette! You are entered in the giveaway!
Isn’t it amazing to watch God takes all our “uns” and make them useful for Him. What an awesome God we have!
Amen! Yes, He is an awesome God! Thanks Carol, you are entered!
Your “un” comments are so meaningful to me today. So often I feel “undone” by the messiness in my life—those things I keep surrendering over and over to the Lord (like my gluttony issue). I know He will complete His work in me, but I sure get impatient when I mess up. Thanks for reminding us of God’s un-limited grace. And Rhonda’s book sounds like exactly what I need to read.
Dawn, thank you for sharing! You are entered in the giveaway!
Wow! Do I have slot if un’s in my life. Sounds like a awesome book! I would love to win one!
Thank you!
I’ve got a few “un’s” as well! You are entered in the drawing Ramona!
I remember reading Rhonda Rhea in Home Life magazine and would love to win a book. Fun! Thanks.
Yes, Rhonda is wonderful! Marilyn you are entered!
Hi Kathy, greetings from the Land Down Under, Australia. I truely dont enter competitions for prizes , well very seldomly but i felt compelled to enter this one even though i live so far away from you but still a part of Gods Kingdom.
As i was enjoying reading your latest post and feelibg thankful to the Lord for you writing this one and many encouraging messages, i had a chuckle to myself. I booked myself into a free Decluttering info session months ago at my local library and have since been on a journey with a sister in Christ, to declutter my personal life and walk with God and identify Gods purpose with clarity. That public session is on tonight. I cant help thinking God is far more wanting me to receive some wise counsel from His perspective, rather than solely from the worlds
Bless you for your ministry and encouragement to other women to walk in theirs.
Barb van Andel.
Barbara, hello from the States! So glad you stopped by. Thank you for sharing a bit of what God is doing in your life. It sounds like Rhonda’s book might be a helpful encouragement!
I would love to read this – sounds timely for me!
Hi Diana! Thanks for coming by. You are entered!