God’s Plan vs Ours

Show notes

About This Episode How do you respond when your plans are not fulfilled as you hoped? Aaron and Jennifer look back on how missionary work, having five kids, and homeschooling all went differently than they first imagined, and they share a business example where orders from Hobby Lobby surged and then shrank, forcing Aaron to surrender his sense of security. Aaron pushes back on oversimplified open-door, closed-door discernment and suggests that God is mostly after our obedience and how we respond, which is our sanctification, rather than simply revealing which path to take. They offer trust, humility, and stillness as antidotes when life doesn't go to plan, anchored in Proverbs 16:9: the heart of a man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

About Aaron & Jennifer Smith Aaron and Jennifer Smith are the founders of Marriage After God and authors of Husband After God, Wife After God, and Marriage After God. Married since 2007 and raising six children in Bend, Oregon, they started Husband Revolution and Unveiled Wife to share what God was teaching them, not from a place of having it figured out, but as fellow travelers pointing couples back to Jesus.

In This Episode Plans that changed — missionary work, five kids, and homeschooling A business lesson — when Hobby Lobby orders surged and then shrank Surrendering security — letting go of what we lean on instead of God Open doors and closed doors — why discernment is about more than picking a path Obedience and sanctification — what God is after in how we respond Trust, humility, and stillness — practical antidotes when plans fall apart Jeremiah 29:11 reframed — a fresh look at a favorite promise

Scripture Referenced Proverbs 16:9; Proverbs 3:5-6; Psalm 46:10; Jeremiah 29:11

Resources from This Episode This week's episode is brought to you by our newest book "Marriage After God: Chasing Boldly After God’s Purpose for Your Life Together." One of our motivations for writing Marriage After God was to help inspire couples to consider how they can use what they have to serve God together. Sometimes we need that “out of the box” thinking to get us to see the bigger picture or possibilities that lay right in front of us. Instead of seeing ministry as a Sunday service practice, we encourage couples to see their marriage as a ministry, a reflection of God’s love in this world. Grab Your Copy of marriage after God today! Amazon.com Check out our marriage resources! Sponsors: Get our new book The Marriage Gift - 365 prayers for your marriage! Full show notes and blog post

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