God's Plan

[Leaviathan]

I constantly hear other Christians quote God's Plan every time something positive happens in someone life (new job, new baby on the way, big pay raise) but you never hear anyone say it's God's Plan when negative or bad things happen in someone's life.

I have a hard time wrapping my head around this, it's almost as though some people cherry pick where they want this term inserted into a situation. Or God only has plans for those that are already successful (or so it seems) Is this mostly a term created by man? To glorify God when something good happens to a fellow Christian?

What about Nigerian Christians that get butchered by Warlords? Or people that live in run down neighborhoods in Chicago. They're still waiting for God's Plan to bring something positive into their lives. I'm just looking for some reasoning so I can look at this term the way it should be.
It seems kind of Elitist, that only people that live a good, safe, productive life, have this term inserted into sentences regarding the outcome of certain situations. I need some help with this.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

I constantly hear other Christians quote God's Plan every time something positive happens in someone life (new job, new baby on the way, big pay raise) but you never hear anyone say it's God's Plan when negative or bad things happen in someone's life.

I have a hard time wrapping my head around this, it's almost as though some people cherry pick where they want this term inserted into a situation. Or God only has plans for those that are already successful (or so it seems) Is this mostly a term created by man? To glorify God when something good happens to a fellow Christian?

What about Nigerian Christians that get butchered by Warlords? Or people that live in run down neighborhoods in Chicago. They're still waiting for God's Plan to bring something positive into their lives. I'm just looking for some reasoning so I can look at this term the way it should be.
It seems kind of Elitist, that only people that live a good, safe, productive life, have this term inserted into sentences regarding the outcome of certain situations. I need some help with this.

Your post brings to mind Jesus Christ of Nazareth. God planned His sacrifice, which included much suffering, for humanity. This should take care of your query as well as others. Pass it on. Blessings

 

[St_Worm2]

Hello @Leaviathan, there's nothing wrong with hoping for the best, of course, but we have trouble seeing what "good" really is for us sometimes because of our limited POV .. e.g. Hebrews 12:7-11. God sees the whole of our lives from His POV and He also promises us (His adopted children) that He will (eventually) work ALL THINGS in our lives (IOW, that which 'we' perceive as being "good" and "bad") together for our good

Understanding this prompted Spurgeon to say,

"We know that God causes all things to work together
for good to those who love God, to those who
are called according to His purpose"
Romans 8:28​

I'll stop here with those thoughts for now, as this is a BIG topic (and the above is just one small aspect of it).

God bless you!

--David
p.s. - here is another quick thought about the blessings of God, the (seeming) lack thereof, and the benefit of the latter for us at times, from theologian and pastor A. W. Pink.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

I constantly hear other Christians quote God's Plan every time something positive happens in someone life (new job, new baby on the way, big pay raise) but you never hear anyone say it's God's Plan when negative or bad things happen in someone's life.

I have a hard time wrapping my head around this, it's almost as though some people cherry pick where they want this term inserted into a situation. Or God only has plans for those that are already successful (or so it seems) Is this mostly a term created by man? To glorify God when something good happens to a fellow Christian?

What about Nigerian Christians that get butchered by Warlords? Or people that live in run down neighborhoods in Chicago. They're still waiting for God's Plan to bring something positive into their lives. I'm just looking for some reasoning so I can look at this term the way it should be.
It seems kind of Elitist, that only people that live a good, safe, productive life, have this term inserted into sentences regarding the outcome of certain situations. I need some help with this.

Kind of reminds me of the book of Jeremiah.

 

[eleos1954]

I constantly hear other Christians quote God's Plan every time something positive happens in someone life (new job, new baby on the way, big pay raise) but you never hear anyone say it's God's Plan when negative or bad things happen in someone's life.

I have a hard time wrapping my head around this, it's almost as though some people cherry pick where they want this term inserted into a situation. Or God only has plans for those that are already successful (or so it seems) Is this mostly a term created by man? To glorify God when something good happens to a fellow Christian?

What about Nigerian Christians that get butchered by Warlords? Or people that live in run down neighborhoods in Chicago. They're still waiting for God's Plan to bring something positive into their lives. I'm just looking for some reasoning so I can look at this term the way it should be.
It seems kind of Elitist, that only people that live a good, safe, productive life, have this term inserted into sentences regarding the outcome of certain situations. I need some help with this.

Read the book of Job.

When it is said that everything that happens to us is according to God’s plan, we might be trying to comfort and encourage others or ourselves. But what we are really doing is undermining free will. If God opens every door He wants us to walk through and closes every door He does not want us to go through, then we don’t really have the actual freedom to make choices on our own! We’re just along for the ride.

God doesn't micromanage our lives, we are not robots.

Yes there is pain and suffering in the world and we are told it would be that way. He goes through the good times and bad times with us .... He will help us get through it all.

Read the book of Job.

Regardless what goes on .... Blessed be the name of the Lord.

 

[Jamdoc]

I constantly hear other Christians quote God's Plan every time something positive happens in someone life (new job, new baby on the way, big pay raise) but you never hear anyone say it's God's Plan when negative or bad things happen in someone's life.

I have a hard time wrapping my head around this, it's almost as though some people cherry pick where they want this term inserted into a situation. Or God only has plans for those that are already successful (or so it seems) Is this mostly a term created by man? To glorify God when something good happens to a fellow Christian?

What about Nigerian Christians that get butchered by Warlords? Or people that live in run down neighborhoods in Chicago. They're still waiting for God's Plan to bring something positive into their lives. I'm just looking for some reasoning so I can look at this term the way it should be.
It seems kind of Elitist, that only people that live a good, safe, productive life, have this term inserted into sentences regarding the outcome of certain situations. I need some help with this.

I fully agree, and there is evidence all over the bible of suffering being God's plan in a person's life. That's the point of Job. To show that if you are suffering as a believer it's not because God doesn't love you, or God has forsaken you or even that you've done something to displease God. It can be a test, it can also just be "training" to make you grow and mature.

Some people have a plan where they can just wake up every day rejoicing and thinking "I wonder what God has in store for me today" looking forward to it...
but others, like Job, woke up wishing they'd never been born, because of what God was putting them through at the moment.

Never forget our savior was prophecied to be a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief, who sweat blood and asked His father if there was ANY other way than to die on the cross for us.
Sometimes God's plans involve suffering, to bring about something greater.

 

[SkyWriting]

I constantly hear other Christians quote God's Plan every time something positive happens in someone life (new job, new baby on the way, big pay raise) but you never hear anyone say it's God's Plan when negative or bad things happen in someone's life.

Only RealChristians™ will do that.

 

[SkyWriting]

I constantly hear other Christians quote God's Plan every time something positive happens in someone life (new job, new baby on the way, big pay raise) but you never hear anyone say it's God's Plan when negative or bad things happen in someone's life.

You hear it at funerals.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

My wife use to tell our children that God had a plan for them.

I have a different philosophy on this. I could be wrong,
but it's where my mindset is currently.

God has a plan for the world, but for us individuals, He merely places us
into a fallen world and allows us to choose between good and evil and grow
from our choices. His plan was to bring salvation in Jesus Christ, but that
salvation was for all of humanity, not just individuals.

When someone says tells of how their building burnt down and God saved them.
Well, what about those who weren't saved, where they less worthy than you?
I don't think so. The building caught fire and you managed to make it out alive,
where others perished. They souls are with God now and we pray for their eternal
happiness.

To me, life here is a time of growth for humans and we accept all that comes our
way and ask God for help to get through it. Sometimes, God intervenes and miracles
do happen, but from my experience, their so natural and subtle, that only people with
faith will consciously experience them.

 

[I's2C]

I constantly hear other Christians quote God's Plan every time something positive happens in someone life (new job, new baby on the way, big pay raise) but you never hear anyone say it's God's Plan when negative or bad things happen in someone's life.

I have a hard time wrapping my head around this, it's almost as though some people cherry pick where they want this term inserted into a situation. Or God only has plans for those that are already successful (or so it seems) Is this mostly a term created by man? To glorify God when something good happens to a fellow Christian?

What about Nigerian Christians that get butchered by Warlords? Or people that live in run down neighborhoods in Chicago. They're still waiting for God's Plan to bring something positive into their lives. I'm just looking for some reasoning so I can look at this term the way it should be.
It seems kind of Elitist, that only people that live a good, safe, productive life, have this term inserted into sentences regarding the outcome of certain situations. I need some help with this.

Jer 23:38 But since ye say, The burden of the LORD; therefore thus saith the LORD; Because ye say this word, The burden of the LORD, and I have sent unto you, saying, Ye shall not say, The burden of the LORD;


Jer 23:39 Therefore, behold, I, even I, will utterly forget you, and I will forsake you, and the city that I gave you and your fathers, and cast you out of my presence:


Jer 23:40 And I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you, and a perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten.

Be very careful who you blame for burdens in your life. Spiritual discernment comes into play; to know where the burden comes from. GOD only disciplines HIS own, like any loving father to show them the error of their ways to turn from it. Most tribulations come from peoples own making. Satan is allowed to interfere in Christians lives because GOD wants us, HIS created to defeat HIS creation; CHRIST gave us the power to defeat our enemies and if there are troubles in your life then rebuke it and show it the door. Wisdom comes by the WORD of GOD and HE shows us through scripture how to defeat any situation. HE also promises that you will never go through anything that man hasn’t gone through before and will always give you away out. IF you love GOD and do everything in your power to do what HE tells us to do; HE promises HE will never leave or forsake you. 1 poster brought up Job and this was a onetime event where GOD allowed an all-out assault on a righteous man because HE knew Job would/could defeat Satan at his on game, the burdens didn’t come from GOD but Satan and allowed by GOD. Today Satan is no longer with us in his personage as he was in times of Job but his spirit and spirits of evil do entice those who allow it, don’t allow it; rebuke and do what GOD tells us to do; anoint your homes and tell evil to flee from your presence it in the name of YESHUA. You show me someone who has all out assaults on them, I will show you their errors. There are times when people are in wrong place at wrong time and bad things happen to good people. But if you have CHRIST over you there is nothing you can’t overcome. Paul comes to mind for he was always in prison for the WORD of GOD but he flat out said it made him stronger to overcome future challenges. I personally can detest to this scenario for I feel like there is nothing I can’t overcome having dealt with it and what I can’t handle, if I have done everything humanly possible on my own "for GOD only helps those who help themselves"; I know my GOD who has infinite power and wisdom will be there; not if but 100% assurity that CHRIST will be there to defend me with 10k angels if necessary! Christians get so upset over the smallest things and ask “why me LORD?” I always tell them why not you or why not me? If you fallow GOD with all your heart, mind and soul then GOD is not angry with you. Satan is going to come after Christians; he already has the rest of the world so I welcome adversity now while I am able to handle it for when Satan is tossed back to earth for 5 months I will be better prepared to take him on. So those of you out there that blame GOD for the chaos man has caused best take self-proclamations of their lives as to what you can do to make it better. Rely on all you can do then CHRIST is quick to do the rest. I know with 100% in all my heart, soul and mind that we have a GOD with infinite power and wisdom where we have the power bestowed on us to take on HIS created. It would be nothing for GOD to thump Satan into the sun but HE wants us just as HE wanted Job to take care of business. Gird up your loins for if you cant handle the small things now; how will you ever be able to take on Satan and his minions?