“When things happen which dismay, we ought to look to God, remembering that He is not taken by surprise nor can His purposes be thwarted” (Elisabeth Elliot).

That’s good news. There’s never a time in my life where God will say, “Well, I was definitely not expecting that” or “I didn’t see that coming.”

God is never taken by surprise. You and I aren’t big enough to mess up God’s plans. We’re not that big and we’re not that strong. In fact, God has factored our dumb decisions into His plan. He knew how often we’d get it completely wrong.

There’s nothing bad that happens that God can’t turn to good. While the tragedy isn’t good, what will come of it is. While the pain still hurts, there’s joy down the road that’s inevitable. Even in the worst possible scenario, God is still with you and for you.

You don’t have to worry about God’s plans not coming to pass. You also don’t have to wonder if those plans for you are good. They are. Just take a quick peek at Jeremiah 29:11. His plans for you are still good. He still knows what those plans are — to give you a future and a hope that nothing in this world can take away.

If you think that you can mess up God’s plans, remember that they’re foolproof. Even when the fool in question is you or me. He’s got this.