When God Changes the Plan: Choosing Your Response
Few things unsettle us faster than realizing the plan we imagined is no longer an option.
A conversation changes everything. A diagnosis hits. A door closes. A responsibility shows up unexpectedly. Suddenly, the question isn’t whether we believe in God, it’s how we respond when life looks different than we expected.
The Christmas story is often wrapped in lights and joy, but at its core, it’s a story about disrupted plans and unexpected responses. No part of that story shows this more clearly than the lives of Joseph, Mary, Elizabeth, and Zechariah.
Same God. Same promise. Very different responses.
Joseph: Trust When the Story Doesn’t Make Sense
Matthew 1 tells us that Joseph and Mary were engaged — an arranged commitment that carried the weight of marriage. Their families were involved. Their future was set. Then Mary became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Think about it from Joseph’s perspective, this just doesn’t add up. That’s not how babies are made!
Scripture says he was a righteous man who didn’t want to disgrace Mary publicly, so he decided to end the engagement quietly. Even in confusion and heartbreak, Joseph chose compassion.
Then something powerful happened. As he’s considering his next step, an angel appeared to him in a dream and called him by a higher identity: “Joseph, son of David.”
Before giving instruction, God reminds him who he is: Son of David!
The angel’s message is simple but clear: Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. (Matthew 1:20)
Joseph obeyed and took Mary as his wife.
When faced with the impossible, it’s easy to rely on reason and logic to talk ourselves out of what God has promised, but Joseph shows us that trusting God and following His instruction leads to peace, even when the path is difficult.
LESSON: Hearing God is not enough. It’s faith in action that brings His plan to life.
Mary: Humility When the Calling Is Bigger Than You
Luke 1 shifts the lens to Mary. The angel greets her as highly favored and blessed. Then comes the announcement: she will give birth to a son named Jesus. He will be great. He will reign forever.
Confused, Mary asks an honest question: “How can this be?” The angel explains that the Holy Spirit will overshadow her. This child will be the Son of God.
Mary’s response is one of the most grounded moments in Scripture: “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything You have said about me come true.” (Luke 1:38)
She doesn’t boast.
She doesn’t try to control the outcome.
She doesn’t rush to announce her calling.
She doesn’t build her identity around the promise.
She doesn’t use spiritual language to elevate herself.
She surrenders with trust and humility.
In our enthusiasm, it’s easy to over-spiritualize what God says. Mary shows us a better way: humility, patience, and trust.
LESSON: Humility opens the door for God to move beyond what we can understand.
Elizabeth: Gratitude That Recognizes God’s Faithfulness
Mary’s next step is simple and wise: she goes to see Elizabeth.
When Mary arrives, Elizabeth is filled with joy. She recognizes God’s work immediately and celebrates it without comparison or hesitation. Scripture says the baby in her womb leaps for joy.
Elizabeth’s response is gratitude. After years of waiting and disappointment, she doesn’t focus on what was delayed, she celebrates what God is doing now.
She declares, “Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of what the Lord has spoken.” (Luke 1:45)
It’s tempting to try to force an outcome to help move God’s plan along, but Elizabeth shows us the importance of holding onto God’s promises and the power of gratitude.
LESSON: Gratitude anchors our faith and keeps our hearts aligned with God’s timing.
Zechariah: Doubt Didn’t Stop God—but It Did Complicate the Journey
Zechariah responded differently. He questioned the angel’s message and struggled to believe, yet God remained faithful.
Doubt didn’t cancel the promise. His response just made the journey heavier than it needed to be.
LESSON: God remains faithful, but our response determines how we experience the road between promise and fulfillment.
One Promise. Four Responses.
Zechariah responded with doubt.
Elizabeth responded with gratitude.
Joseph responded with trust and action.
Mary responded with humility and surrender.
Every path was difficult, but trust, gratitude, humility, and obedience positioned each of them to experience God’s best, not just for themselves, but for generations to come.
God is faithful. The question isn’t if He will keep His promises but how we will respond when He interrupts our plans.
Your response to an unexpected change won’t cancel God’s promise, but it will shape the journey.
Series Note: This post continues the conversation about peace and faith in God’s timing. If you haven’t read Part 1 yet, check out [Right on Time: The God Who is Never Late] to see how God’s promises always arrive exactly when He intends.
A conversation changes everything. A diagnosis hits. A door closes. A responsibility shows up unexpectedly. Suddenly, the question isn’t whether we believe in God, it’s how we respond when life looks different than we expected.
The Christmas story is often wrapped in lights and joy, but at its core, it’s a story about disrupted plans and unexpected responses. No part of that story shows this more clearly than the lives of Joseph, Mary, Elizabeth, and Zechariah.
Same God. Same promise. Very different responses.
Joseph: Trust When the Story Doesn’t Make Sense
Matthew 1 tells us that Joseph and Mary were engaged — an arranged commitment that carried the weight of marriage. Their families were involved. Their future was set. Then Mary became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Think about it from Joseph’s perspective, this just doesn’t add up. That’s not how babies are made!
Scripture says he was a righteous man who didn’t want to disgrace Mary publicly, so he decided to end the engagement quietly. Even in confusion and heartbreak, Joseph chose compassion.
Then something powerful happened. As he’s considering his next step, an angel appeared to him in a dream and called him by a higher identity: “Joseph, son of David.”
Before giving instruction, God reminds him who he is: Son of David!
The angel’s message is simple but clear: Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. (Matthew 1:20)
Joseph obeyed and took Mary as his wife.
When faced with the impossible, it’s easy to rely on reason and logic to talk ourselves out of what God has promised, but Joseph shows us that trusting God and following His instruction leads to peace, even when the path is difficult.
LESSON: Hearing God is not enough. It’s faith in action that brings His plan to life.
Mary: Humility When the Calling Is Bigger Than You
Luke 1 shifts the lens to Mary. The angel greets her as highly favored and blessed. Then comes the announcement: she will give birth to a son named Jesus. He will be great. He will reign forever.
Confused, Mary asks an honest question: “How can this be?” The angel explains that the Holy Spirit will overshadow her. This child will be the Son of God.
Mary’s response is one of the most grounded moments in Scripture: “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything You have said about me come true.” (Luke 1:38)
She doesn’t boast.
She doesn’t try to control the outcome.
She doesn’t rush to announce her calling.
She doesn’t build her identity around the promise.
She doesn’t use spiritual language to elevate herself.
She surrenders with trust and humility.
In our enthusiasm, it’s easy to over-spiritualize what God says. Mary shows us a better way: humility, patience, and trust.
LESSON: Humility opens the door for God to move beyond what we can understand.
Elizabeth: Gratitude That Recognizes God’s Faithfulness
Mary’s next step is simple and wise: she goes to see Elizabeth.
When Mary arrives, Elizabeth is filled with joy. She recognizes God’s work immediately and celebrates it without comparison or hesitation. Scripture says the baby in her womb leaps for joy.
Elizabeth’s response is gratitude. After years of waiting and disappointment, she doesn’t focus on what was delayed, she celebrates what God is doing now.
She declares, “Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of what the Lord has spoken.” (Luke 1:45)
It’s tempting to try to force an outcome to help move God’s plan along, but Elizabeth shows us the importance of holding onto God’s promises and the power of gratitude.
LESSON: Gratitude anchors our faith and keeps our hearts aligned with God’s timing.
Zechariah: Doubt Didn’t Stop God—but It Did Complicate the Journey
Zechariah responded differently. He questioned the angel’s message and struggled to believe, yet God remained faithful.
Doubt didn’t cancel the promise. His response just made the journey heavier than it needed to be.
LESSON: God remains faithful, but our response determines how we experience the road between promise and fulfillment.
One Promise. Four Responses.
Zechariah responded with doubt.
Elizabeth responded with gratitude.
Joseph responded with trust and action.
Mary responded with humility and surrender.
Every path was difficult, but trust, gratitude, humility, and obedience positioned each of them to experience God’s best, not just for themselves, but for generations to come.
God is faithful. The question isn’t if He will keep His promises but how we will respond when He interrupts our plans.
Your response to an unexpected change won’t cancel God’s promise, but it will shape the journey.
Series Note: This post continues the conversation about peace and faith in God’s timing. If you haven’t read Part 1 yet, check out [Right on Time: The God Who is Never Late] to see how God’s promises always arrive exactly when He intends.
Posted in Advent
Posted in Christmas Story, Joseph and Mary, Zechariah, Elizabeth, Responding to God, faith, Obedience, humility, Gratitude, peace, God\\\'s Plan
Posted in Christmas Story, Joseph and Mary, Zechariah, Elizabeth, Responding to God, faith, Obedience, humility, Gratitude, peace, God\\\'s Plan
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