“A man’s mind plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9)
When I was younger, I created a plan for my life, what I thought would make me happy- a good career, a family of my own, etc. But not long after college, God surprised me when, during a weekend retreat, He revealed His plan for me to serve His Church as a religious sister. As I spent the next few months wrestling with the possibility of a religious vocation, I realized that when I had created “my plan,” I never once consulted God. I had never taken the time to ask God what His plan for me was. As God did finally reveal His plan for me, I began to understand that His plan was actually so much better than my plan. His plan was according to how He made me and the desires that He placed in my heart.
How often we forget to consult God in our decision-making. He is our Creator. He knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows what will make us happy and what will ultimately make us saints. When it comes to those important decisions- Should I take that new job? Or move to a new place? Should I marry this person? Or enter that religious community?- we should always ask God what His will is for us. We don’t have to understand it. Mary did not understand how she could become the Mother of God, and yet she still gave her fiat, surrendering to His most holy will. May we, like Mary, always have the courage to say, “May it be done unto me according to your word,” at whatever God calls us to do.
