God’s plans for people will never expire

By Pastor Ryan Stockstrom

Harvest Fellowship Church

Last week I challenged us to consider, “What was God’s Motivation?” Why did He send Jesus into this broken and harsh world? What is it about Him? What’s in His heart that allowed Him to make the decision to send His Son to give His life for a sinner like you and I? What kind of love and goodness and compassion drove Him?  

It’s an amazing thing to ponder.  

This week, I want us to consider an aspect of God that we don’t often talk about. And that is simply: God is Strategic. God has a plan. Galatians 4:4 (NIV) says, “But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son.”  

God knew exactly when to send His Son into this world for maximum impact. For instance, under Roman rule, people had many advantages: a unifying language—Greek, a complete system of roadways, and a unified law over a vast area of rule.  

All of these things that were built for an empire were ultimately used to spread the good news of Jesus to the entire known world! That’s one example of God’s plan.  

Another example is well…you.  

Our youth director, Mike Riva, shared last weekend that God has a plan for each and every one of our youth. That it’s not a mistake they were born into the world at the time they were; to impact it for good. I believe that wholeheartedly. I believe God also knew you, the times and seasons you would live in, and that He has a purpose and plan for your life. Have you ever considered the plan God has for you? Have you ever asked Him? Maybe you feel like you’ve missed His plan.  

I want to encourage you….God’s plans for you will never expire.  

Sometimes we feel our God-given purposes fade: We live life, and we all face hard times and hard seasons and different forms of sufferings. But in Romans 8:28 (NLT) scripture says, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” 

No matter what heartache or difficulty, success, or failure you are facing today; know that God sees you, and He is strategic. He is at work for your good, and for the good of the people around you as well. Maybe He’s working through your hard time to produce in you something good and beautiful for the future. Wherever you are at today, know He loves you and He has a plan.