Lean into your calling as you lean into the God who has called you.

When Your “Perfect” Plan Has Crashed and Burned

Posted on by Michele Morin

It all started as a strategy for outreach. We sat around a table and began to dream out loud, trusting that the fire of shared passion and the wisdom of group process would yield creative ideas for communicating the love of Christ to our community.

I don’t mind confessing that I loved my dream. We would offer free oil changes to those in need: the poor, the elderly, single parents, come one, come all! Coffee and brownies would make the most of the waiting time as those of us less talented with a wrench would fill cups and keep the conversation flowing. We prepared colorful informational brochures about our church and its programs. We bought supplies, spread the word, and waited.

Not one person signed up.
Not one person called to inquire.

The spectacular crash and burn of my dream rang in my ears for a long time. In fact, it was all I could hear, and it was ages before my idea spigot found its way back to the on-position once again.

Tell me, have you had this kind of experience? When failure veers into your perfectly laid plans from out of nowhere, it’s hard to recover–and hard to trust again. I’m sharing my story in full today over at Rachel Lee‘s writing home, and it’s my pure joy to invite you to join me over there for the remainder.

 

Rachel Lee

 

And while you are there…

Rachel is hosting a summer series featuring Stories of Hope from women who have found hope in Christ in the context of suffering, divorce, chronic illness, church hurt, mental illness, and much more. Click here for details about the many topics addressed in the series.

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Photo by Oleg Danylenko on Unsplash

I link-up with a number of blogging communities on a regular basis. They are listed in the left sidebar by day of the week. I hope that you will take a moment to enjoy reading the work of some of these fine writers and thinkers.

Published by Michele Morin

Michele Morin is a Bible teacher, writer, reader, and gardener committed to the truth that women can become confident Christ-followers and students of God's Word. She has been married to an unreasonably patient husband for thirty-plus years, and together they have four sons, four daughters-in-love, and six adorable grandchildren. Michele loves hot tea and well-crafted sentences, poems that stop her in her tracks, and days at the ocean with the whole family. She laments biblical illiteracy and advocates for the prudent use of “little minutes.” She blogs at Living Our Days, and you can connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.

26 thoughts on “When Your “Perfect” Plan Has Crashed and Burned”

  2. OH I agree it can be so hard to recover our confidence after something like that. It sounded like such a great idea too! Thanks so much for sharing with us at Encouraging Hearts and Home. Pinning and clicking over to read the rest.

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  9. I am not sure which of you wrote the prayer but loved this line in it…”May we respond to life’s disappointments in a way that puts your glory on display” as it is what we should each desire! That even when a plan flops we can be confident in the Lord through it all and just keep on like Jeremiah. Michele this is one of those posts that gets tucked right at the forefront of the mind as we know we’ll find ourselves needing this reminder often!

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    1. I try to keep the truth of God’s unconditional acceptance front and center as well, April. So often life disappoints, but God is sovereign and has plans that are unknown to me.

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  10. Michele, yes, I have crashed and burned more than once. Thank God is plans are better than mine. Thanks for linking this post to the #GatheringofFriendsLinkParty 3

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  11. Oh yes, I have lived through this crash and burn several times. I’m excited to savor your full story later! Thanks for sharing this at Booknificent Thursday at Mommynificent.com!
    Tina

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  13. “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” Winston Churchill must have been buddies with Jeremiah! Thanks for sharing with us at The Blogger’s Pit Stop!

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