Whether you believe in God, the universe, Buddha, several Gods, or just a higher power in general, most of us believe that a divine plan exists for our lives. Each day, we are all faced with decisions and choices to make. When those decisions are difficult and have a lot riding on them, it may be normal to wonder how making the wrong decision will affect the trajectory of your life.
God’s Plan
As someone who believes in God, I most certainly believe God has a plan for our lives. God gives us all gifts that we are expected to use to make our mark on the world. There is a purpose for each and every one of our lives. Some people figure out their purpose earlier than others, but ultimately God places us all on a path to something special that is unique to us. But the question is: “Is it possible to mess this plan up? “
We are humans, which means we are flawed and make poor choices from time to time. Some people believe even those poor choices are a part of the plan. However, this is where we have to factor in the effect of having free will. Sometimes, we do things we know aren’t right or beneficial to our lives. Mistakes can sometimes have costly consequences and may require much time to rectify or may not be fixable. I don’t believe that mistakes can keep you from your destiny, but they can definitely make the journey longer.
Bowling Analogy
Imagine you’re at the bowling alley and have bumpers on the lane. The target is the pins, which will represent your destiny/purpose. The ball is you. The ball rolling down the alley represents your journey, and the bumpers are God. The ball going anywhere but toward the pins is you making a mistake or a poor decision. Those bumpers will push the ball back onto the path, which is exactly what God does for us. You can run into those bumpers as often as you choose, and I believe He will always find a way to send you back onto your path. When we deviate from the path set for us, God will send somebody or something to help us get back in line. The more times the ball hits the bumpers, the longer it will take to get where it’s intended to go. So, while God guides you, you can still temporarily derail your path.
Staying on Track
When I look back at situations where I did things that were not helpful to my purpose, I can see where people or opportunities popped up to steer me back in the right direction. And sometimes, I still didn’t listen or do what I should have done, but my ball eventually found its way back to the path. One instance that comes to mind is that I stayed at a job too long. I started that job with the intention of being there for maybe one to two years before finding something more suitable for my goals. Well, I got complacent and ended up staying for several years. And guess what happened? I got laid off after a buyout. At first, I didn’t see my layoff as an opportunity, but I can see now see how that layoff changed everything for me. It forced me to do many things I had been putting off. And during the time that I was laid off, I had time to focus on figuring out the right steps to take going forward. If I hadn’t gotten laid off, there’s a great chance I’d still be at that job, miserable and a little less close to my purpose.
Inevitably, mistakes and missteps will happen, but the important thing is to make sure that you take those little helping hands that come along to get you back on track. You cannot ruin God’s plan, but you can add more time to the journey. We’ve all seen or known someone with infinite potential to do great things but couldn’t get right. It isn’t because God didn’t still have a plan for them; those voluntary detours kept their ball hitting the bumpers instead of rolling forward. And the clock is still ticking while that’s happening, so be mindful. In short, you bear some responsibility for how your journey plays out. God gives you the tools and the gift, you have to do your part, but you aren’t quite powerful enough to completely mess up the plan. You can relax a little bit now.
