Businessmen, particularly those involved with startups, know that plans will change, and not only that, they’ll have to change. They’ll have to change to succeed. They’ll have to adapt to what the market needs and wants if they’re going to keep them. They’re going to have to change to grow, to derive as much value, even just to survive. And they’ll have to keep doing this over and over and over, over time.That’s why the best businessmen, while they do plan as effectively as possible, are resilient, able to withstand the changes to deliver that which doesn’t change: the purpose and the values.
I understood the whole idea of needing plans that are adaptable in business but, as many times happens to me, I didn’t practice that lesson in my personal life. I hate it when my plans are ruined.
And I get really angry with the people who ruined them. I get really frustrated with God when it seems He ruined them. I may not confess them, and I definitely won’t rant on my blog or twitter or Facebook like a clueless idiot, but the conversations of my heart are revealing:
“God, why believe in Your promises? I’ve been waiting so long for You to come through, and I look around at all these other people succeeding, and I’m trying to do it right yet things aren’t working.”
“What is wrong with these people? Such a simple request and they can’t even do it. I work so hard and I’m responsible but people aren’t responsible towards me.”
“What’s wrong with the government? No opportunities, and their corruption is holding us all back. This country is going to the dogs.”
I can go on. With every complaint I write a new one enters my head before I’m even finished typing the last one. I grumble quite a bit. Not out loud, but in the darkest parts of my heart. I grumble when what’s happening isn’t lining up to the expectations of my heart, when things aren’t going according to my plans.
But now I am reminded: Proverbs 19:21 so many times, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”
Purpose trumps plans. And I am reminded that ultimately, in the eternal scheme of things, God’s purpose is for us to enjoy Him, and that purpose I can fulfill no matter how well my plans are going.
In the midst of a delayed deal I can say, “Father, can I wait with you?”
In the midst of rejection I can request, “Father, remind me that You love me.”
In the midst of accusation, I can get on my knees and confess, “Father, You’ve taken my sins as far as the east is from the west.”
In the midst of a fading dream, of a painful circumstance, of a major disappointment, I can reframe my perspective and say, “Father, this really sucks! This really sucks so bad! I planned this so well, I worked so hard at this, but it’s not turning out according to plan! But have Your way.”
And I feel Him reminding me, “I don’t know about you, but what’s important to me is that we spend time together. I’m excited for your future, but I’m just happy to be with you, now, today, in the present, whatever that present is. I’m happy to be in this journey with you. I’m happy to be stuck in a phase with you. I’m happy to be on a detour with you, in a life jam with you, to make what you think is an unplanned pitstop with you. I like the plan but what’s important to me is to be with you.”
I understood the whole idea of needing plans that are adaptable in business but, as many times happens to me, I didn’t practice that lesson in my personal life. I hate it when my plans are ruined.
And I get really angry with the people who ruined them. I get really frustrated with God when it seems He ruined them. I may not confess them, and I definitely won’t rant on my blog or twitter or Facebook like a clueless idiot, but the conversations of my heart are revealing:
“God, why believe in Your promises? I’ve been waiting so long for You to come through, and I look around at all these other people succeeding, and I’m trying to do it right yet things aren’t working.”
“What is wrong with these people? Such a simple request and they can’t even do it. I work so hard and I’m responsible but people aren’t responsible towards me.”
“What’s wrong with the government? No opportunities, and their corruption is holding us all back. This country is going to the dogs.”
I can go on. With every complaint I write a new one enters my head before I’m even finished typing the last one. I grumble quite a bit. Not out loud, but in the darkest parts of my heart. I grumble when what’s happening isn’t lining up to the expectations of my heart, when things aren’t going according to my plans.
But now I am reminded: Proverbs 19:21 so many times, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”
Purpose trumps plans. And I am reminded that ultimately, in the eternal scheme of things, God’s purpose is for us to enjoy Him, and that purpose I can fulfill no matter how well my plans are going.
In the midst of a delayed deal I can say, “Father, can I wait with you?”
In the midst of rejection I can request, “Father, remind me that You love me.”
In the midst of accusation, I can get on my knees and confess, “Father, You’ve taken my sins as far as the east is from the west.”
In the midst of a fading dream, of a painful circumstance, of a major disappointment, I can reframe my perspective and say, “Father, this really sucks! This really sucks so bad! I planned this so well, I worked so hard at this, but it’s not turning out according to plan! But have Your way.”
And I feel Him reminding me, “I don’t know about you, but what’s important to me is that we spend time together. I’m excited for your future, but I’m just happy to be with you, now, today, in the present, whatever that present is. I’m happy to be in this journey with you. I’m happy to be stuck in a phase with you. I’m happy to be on a detour with you, in a life jam with you, to make what you think is an unplanned pitstop with you. I like the plan but what’s important to me is to be with you.”