We all have dreams, goals, and expectations for our lives. Whether it’s landing the perfect job, starting a family, winning a competition, or seeing a long-held prayer answered, we often measure success by outcomes. But what happens when things don’t go as planned? When the doors remain closed, the prayers seem unanswered, or the outcome isn’t what we hoped for? Scripture reminds us that life isn’t about the outcomes—it’s about trusting the One who holds our future in His hands.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." This verse doesn’t promise that we will always get what we want, but it does promise that God will direct our paths. Trusting God means surrendering our need to control the outcome and instead relying on His wisdom, timing, and greater plan.
Consider the story of Joseph. He had dreams of greatness, but instead, he was sold into slavery, falsely accused, and imprisoned. For years, his life seemed to be moving in the opposite direction of his dreams. But Joseph remained faithful, trusting that God was at work even when his circumstances suggested otherwise. In the end, Joseph’s story was not just about achieving a high position in Egypt—it was about God’s faithfulness in fulfilling His purposes.
God calls us to faithfulness, not just success. Our walk with Him isn’t about achieving specific outcomes but about remaining steadfast in trust and obedience, no matter what happens. Hebrews 11, often called the “Hall of Faith,” lists many who lived by faith but never saw the fulfillment of God’s promises in their lifetime. Yet, they were commended not for their results, but for their trust in God.
In a world that measures success by visible achievements, God calls us to measure it by our faithfulness to Him. Are we seeking Him regardless of the outcome? Are we trusting Him even when we don’t understand?
Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds us, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." We may not always understand why things happen the way they do, but we can rest in the assurance that God’s plans are greater than our own.
When we release our grip on outcomes, we find peace in God’s sovereignty. We can pray boldly, work diligently, and dream big, but ultimately, we must entrust the results to Him. He is writing a greater story—one that may look different from what we imagined but is always for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28).
Life isn’t about achieving the perfect outcome; it’s about walking in trust with the perfect God. Just like Joseph, we may go through seasons that don’t make sense, but we can rest assured that God is at work. Our responsibility is not to control the outcome but to remain faithful in the process. Today, let’s choose trust over worry, faith over fear, and God’s plan over our own.
