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Whenever I have an important meeting scheduled, a presentation to give, or a looming conversation, I practice what I am going to say – and it always goes so perfectly!

Maybe you can relate?

It's amazing how we can so easily solve problems, deliver inspiring speeches, ace job interviews, and rehearse conversations before they happen when it's just us.

We are so good at planning for the expected, for the things we can control. But often life and people are much more interesting.

In these moments, we can fail to plan for God’s goodness.

I think of the story of the Prodigal Son. When he had squandered his father’s inheritance and reached the end of his rope, Scripture tells us that he “came to his senses” and decided to return home. On the way, he practiced all the things he would say to his father. I can imagine him, like me, creating a dialogue in his head and meticulously crafting the perfect words.

“I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.” (Luke 15:18-19)

Can’t you see the son practicing those words over and over? Trying to remember exactly what to say when he finally arrived home and met his father? What he failed to factor into his plan was his father’s sheer goodness and mercy. The son did not even have a chance to deliver his well-rehearsed speech because his father saw him from a distance, ran to him, and gathered his son into his arms.

The son, after recovering from this deviation of the plan, began his speech. But before he could finish, the father was already planning a feast. 

This is the goodness of God.

He is always ready, waiting to bless his children with an abundance of love, mercy, gentleness, kindness, peace, and goodness. It is in His very nature to do so because He is good. Too often we leave His goodness and His providence out of our plans. He is planning a feast for us, but we don’t always see that amid our embarrassment and rehearsed speeches.

And how do you plan for your life?

Do you try to control every detail? White-knuckle it on your own? Jump immediately to worst case scenario? Make a list of pros and cons? Make it up as you go? Research and execute? Verbally process with friends? Plan, then re-plan as things don’t work out? Throw up your hands and give up?

We all do these things at some point in our lives. We cannot help it; we are so wonderfully human.

But my challenge to you and to myself is this: As you make your plans, don’t forget to plan for God’s goodness. Don’t forget to leave space for God to act. His goodness is not an accident or a coincidence. It is not a way He covers up our mistakes or rewards our good behavior. His action in our lives at every moment is to bring about our growth in holiness and draw us closer to Himself.

We plan for so many other things in life, some which never come to pass. Why not plan on God’s goodness? It is the truth we can bet our whole lives on. Expect Him to be present, expect Him to act, and expect Him to be good.