Plans with Purpose: God’s Way to True Change

“We plan the way we want to live, but only GOD makes us able to live it.” Proverbs 16:9 (MSG)

We all get to make our own plans about how we live our lives. But it’s only through God that we have the power and energy to actually make transformation happen.

The Message paraphrase of Proverbs 16:9 says, “We plan the way we want to live, but only GOD makes us able to live it.”

There are three things I need to reach my goals and change my life—and only God can provide them. 

I need God’s Spirit to empower me.
God’s Spirit can help me make changes I can’t make on my own. Change isn’t the result of willpower; it comes through God’s power. It’s not based on trying; it’s based on trusting.

Zechariah 4:6 says, “‘You will not succeed by your own strength or by your own power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD All-Powerful” (NCV).

I need God’s Word to guide me.
The Bible is the owner’s manual for life. The more I read it, study it, memorize it, and meditate on it, the more successful and fulfilled I'm going to be.

When Joshua was given the great dream of taking over the Promised Land—a goal that was going to take him the rest of his life to reach—God had these words for him: “This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will achieve success” (Joshua 1:8 NASB).

I need God’s people to support me.
I will not be able to reach my goals on my own. It takes a team to fulfill a dream!

A crowd can’t support me, but a small group can. They know when I'm sick, when I'm having a tough time, and when I need a break. I can share my goals and my successes and failures, and they will rejoice with me and encourage me to keep going. I'm going to need that kind of support as I make the right kind of goals and pursue them wholeheartedly.

In the Message paraphrase, Ecclesiastes 4:12 says, “By yourself you’re unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped.”

I can make plans and set goals—but only God can give me the strength, direction, and support I need to live the life he’s called me to.

In summary: 

True and lasting transformation requires more than good intentions or personal effort—it needs God’s involvement. Proverbs 16:9 reminds me that while I can make plans for my life, only God gives me the ability to live them out. To reach my goals and experience real change, I need three essential things from God: His Spirit to empower me beyond my own strength, His Word to guide me with truth and direction, and His people to support me with encouragement and accountability. On my own, I’ll fall short, but with God’s power, guidance, and a spiritual community, I can walk the path He has planned for me and fulfill His purpose for my life.

Living Out Love in Community

“Help carry each other’s burdens. In this way you will follow Christ’s teachings.” Galatians 6:2 (GW)

Small groups are one way I can obey the Bible when it says: “Help carry each other’s burdens. In this way you will follow Christ’s teachings” (Galatians 6:2 GW).

Here’s an interesting thing: When I share a joy, it’s doubled. When I share a sorrow, it’s halved.

If I come to a small group and say, “Guess what! I just got promoted,” everybody rejoices with me. My joy is exponentially multiplied. When I share my joy with others, it is maximized.

If I come to a small group and share that a family member just died or that I've got bad news from my doctor, then my sorrow is halved. I don’t have to carry that burden alone.

In either case, sharing is good for me. The Bible tells us, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15 ESV). And 1 Corinthians 12:26 says, “If one part of the body suffers, all the other parts suffer with it” (GNT).

In a stressful event a small group shows up. They don't always need to do or say anything. They just need to be there for you. That’s what a small group does.

Do I have anybody like that in my life? Am I that kind of support to anyone else? I may think I don’t need one, but a small group can be a lifeline when the disasters of life come. 

Whether they’re maximizing joy or sharing a pain, a small group is where the body of Christ exemplifies Jesus’ teachings to love and care for each other.

In summary:

Being part of a small group allows me to live out Christ’s teachings by sharing both joys and burdens with others. According to Galatians 6:2, helping carry one another’s burdens is a direct way to follow Jesus, and in doing so, I experience the power of community—where joy is multiplied and sorrow is divided. Whether it’s celebrating a success or grieving a loss, small groups provide emotional and spiritual support simply through presence and compassion. This kind of Christ-centered fellowship brings healing, strength, and a tangible expression of God’s love in everyday life.

Stronger Together: Overcoming Temptation Through Community

“Two are better off than one, because together they can work more effectively. If one of them falls down, the other can help him up. But if someone is alone and falls, it’s just too bad, because there is no one to help him.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (GNT)

To break free from the temptations in my life, I'll never do it on my own and without support. I won’t succeed in changing by myself.

But that doesn’t mean there’s no hope for change.

Once I understand that I can’t change on my own, I’ll be free to see how God is working to transform my life by using other people to help me change.

God wired me to need others in order to grow. I need other people to help me break free of hurts, habits, and hang-ups.

I need accountability in my life. The very thing that I want least is the very thing I need most. I need a friend who checks up on me, and I need a group who supports me.

The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, “Two are better off than one, because together they can work more effectively. If one of them falls down, the other can help him up. But if someone is alone and falls, it’s just too bad, because there is no one to help him” (GNT). This is true for falling into temptation as well.

I need somebody in my life to help me with the habits I want to change. I'm not going to change them on my own.

Everybody is tempted. It’s a myth to believe that one day I’ll get to a point in my spiritual life where I'm not tempted anymore. But the truth is, the more mature I become, the more Satan is going to put me on his “most wanted” list.

The Bible says, “Brothers and sisters, if someone in your group does something wrong, you who are spiritual should go to that person and gently help make him right again. But be careful, because you might be tempted to sin, too. By helping each other with your troubles, you truly obey the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:1-2 NCV). 

What’s the law of Christ? Love your neighbor as yourself. How can I love my neighbors like myself? I do it by helping  others through temptation. I do it by working together to stay consistent in areas I want to change. And I do it by helping others break bad habits and start good ones.

God created me to need others. The moment I enlist someone else to help me, the pressure to give in starts dissipating and the temptation starts weakening. That’s the best way I can love my neighbor—and my neighbor can love me.

In summary:

Lasting change and freedom from temptation aren't meant to be tackled alone—I need the support of others. God designed me for community, where accountability and encouragement helps me overcome struggles, break bad habits, and grow spiritually. Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 highlights the power of partnership: when one falls, the other can help them up. True transformation happens when I admit I can’t do it alone, invite others into my journey, and support each other with love, as taught in Galatians 6:1–2. Helping one another through temptation is how I fulfill Christ’s law of loving our neighbor.

Why I Need Others During Tough Times

In Philippians 1:19 it says, “Because you are praying for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ is helping me, I know this trouble will bring my freedom.” (NCV)

When I experience setbacks, my most common response is my worst response: I want to withdraw, to build a wall around myself, to push people away.

But that’s the last thing I should do.

When setbacks leave my faith weak, I need other people to trust God for me. I need a community to help support me.

When Job lost his family, finances, and health, it was a devastating setback—just as it would have been for anyone.

But here’s what one of Job’s friends told him: “Don’t let your anger and the pain you endured make you sneer at God . . . Others have praised God for what he has done, so join with them” (Job 36:18, 24 CEV).

That’s great advice. When I’m in the midst of troubles, don’t get bitter. Join with others who can pray with, worship with, and support me.

Where do I find that kind of support?

First, join with others for worship at a local church. Worshiping with other people will give me a new perspective on my setbacks.

Second, get involved in some kind of small group Bible study. Most churches are too big to build relationships just through attending worship services. I need a group of 10 to 12 people to gather with, not only to study the Bible, but also to share my pain and pray together.

I may not find a comeback on my own. I need God’s people to build me up and help me focus on God.

Gathering with others will be a huge step toward my comeback. Just ask Paul. As he sat in a Roman prison, Paul wrote this about the support of other Christians: “Because you are praying for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ is helping me, I know this trouble will bring my freedom” (Philippians 1:19 NCV).

With the support and prayers of God’s people, my setback is only temporary. My best days are ahead. 

The Six Ways God Helps Me Grieve

In Psalm 34:18 I read, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, and he saves those whose spirits have been crushed.” (NCV)

You don’t get over a loss. You can’t go under it; you can’t go around it. You’ve got to go through the grief. And if I’m scared to express emotion and refuse to go through it, that’s where I’ll get stuck.

I can get unstuck by letting God help me. Here are six ways I’m learning on how God blesses a broken heart.

1. God draws me close to himself.

Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, and he saves those whose spirits have been crushed” (NCV). When I grieve, God is not a million miles away, even though it may feel like it. In fact, he’s never been any closer.

2. God grieves with me.

The Bible tells us that Jesus was “a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief” (Isaiah 53:3 NLT). When I come to Jesus with my grief, he knows what I’m talking about, and he understands my pain. God is not apathetic. He is sympathetic, and he grieves with me.

3. God gives you a church family for support.

We’re meant to grieve and heal in community. We’re better together! The Bible says, “In Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others . . . Be devoted to one another in love . . . Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:5, 10, 15 NIV).

4. God uses grief to help me grow.

God uses grief and even pain to help me become more like Christ, and he does it in three ways: God uses pain to get my attention (Romans 5:3-5), he brings good out of bad (Romans 8:28), and he prepares me for eternity (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).

5. God gives me the hope of heaven.

My life on this Earth is short, but if I trust Jesus Christ for my salvation, then I’ll have the hope of spending eternity in heaven with God. That hope will sustain me through my time of loss. The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 4:13, “We don’t want you to be ignorant about those who have died. We don’t want you to grieve like other people who have no hope” (GW).

6. God uses my pain to help others.

This is called redemptive pain, and it is the highest and best use of the pain I go through. God does not want me to waste a hurt. “[God] comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us” (2 Corinthians 1:4 NLT).

I often wish I could escape troubles, the pain of grief, loss, sorrow, and failure; or even the small daily frustrations that constantly wear me down. What I'm learning is that God promises to be "close to the brokenhearted," to be my source of power, courage, and wisdom, helping me through my problems. Sometimes he chooses to deliver me from them. However, when trouble strikes, I shouldn’t be frustrated with God. Rather I need to admit that I need God's help and then thank him for being by my side. 

The Greatest Privilege in Life

In 1 Peter 1:3 I read, “God . . . has given us the privilege of being born again so that we are now members of God's own family.” (TLB)

A church is not a place I go, and it’s not an event I attend. The church is a spiritual family I belong to, and it’s the most important thing on earth.

Why is the church so important? Because it is God’s family. In fact, the greatest privilege in life is to be part of God’s family, to be able to say, “I’m a member of God’s family. I’m a child of God.”

The Bible says, “God . . . has given us the privilege of being born again so that we are now members of God’s own family” (1 Peter 1:3 TLB).

When born physically, we immediately became part of the human race. That wasn’t our choice. But I do have a choice about my spiritual family. When I choose to accept Jesus as my Savior, I am born spiritually, and I become a member of God’s own family.

One of the benefits of being born into God’s family is found in 1 Timothy 3:15: “[God’s] family is the church of the living God, the support and foundation of the truth” (NCV). Living in an area where there are earthquakes, I know the value of having a good foundation. In the same way, when I have the support of a church family, I won’t crumble when life’s earthquakes happen.

Everything on earth will eventually crumble, except the church. No business, school, government, or nation will last forever. Only the church will last forever, because it is built by Jesus, and he’s focused on building his family.

Jesus says in Matthew 16:18, “I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it” (NLT).

In a world that’s full of uncertainty, I need to choose to build my life on the only foundation that is guaranteed to last: the secure foundation of God’s family.

In summary, God has given me the privilege of being born again so that I become a member of God's own family. A church is not a place I go, and it’s not an event I attend. The church is a spiritual family I belong to, and it’s the most important thing on earth, because it is God’s family. It is the greatest privilege in life, to be part of God’s family, a child of God.” When born physically, we became part of the human race. That wasn’t our choice. But I do have a choice about my spiritual family. When I choose to accept Jesus as my Savior, I am born spiritually, and I become a member of God’s own family. There is value in having a good foundation. When I have the support of a church family, I won’t crumble when life’s earthquakes happen. Everything on earth will eventually crumble, except the church. Only the church will last forever, because it is built by Jesus, and he’s focused on building his family. In a world that’s full of uncertainty, I need to choose to build my life on the only foundation that is guaranteed to last: the secure foundation of God’s family.

Peter's words offer joy and hope in times of trouble, and he bases his confidence on what God has done for me in Christ Jesus. I can live with the wonderful expectation of eternal life. My hope is for the future. My eternal life began when I trusted Christ and joined God's family. God will help me remain true to my faith through whatever difficult times I will face. No matter what trials or persecution I may face, my soul cannot be harmed if I have accepted Christ's gift of salvation. I will receive the promised rewards. It’s because of his great mercy that I have been born again. I can now live with a great expectation of my future because I have a priceless inheritance that is guaranteed. Confidence in this is found in what God has done through Jesus. No matter what trials or persecution I may face, I cannot lose this inheritance. I can place my trust in it. 

What Does God Say to Lonely People?

In Isaiah 53:3 I read, “He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.” (NIV)

If I ever wake up feeling lonely, God has something to say: “I understand exactly how you feel.” God is with me during this difficult season. If I thought Jesus didn’t understand loneliness, I’d be wrong. Jesus was despised and rejected by the people he created. He experienced loneliness throughout his entire life.

During his final hours, Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. This was an emotional time for him. He knew the very next day he would be crucified on the cross, separated from his Father.

Since Jesus had a need for human companionship, he took his three best friends, Peter, James, and John, with him into the garden. He said to them, “I’m very sad . . . Stay here and keep alert with me” (Matthew 26:38 CEB).

But what did they do? They fell asleep! Jesus came back and said, “Couldn’t you stay alert one hour with me?” (Matthew 26:40 CEB). Jesus must have felt so lonely at that moment.

The next day, he was nailed to a cross, where he cried out, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” (Matthew 27:46 GW). Since Jesus was carrying the sins of the world, the Father couldn’t look at sin, at him. Jesus was truly alone.

So Jesus knows what it’s like to feel lonely. And he wants to relieve my loneliness. He cares about me and wants to help me.

Maybe loneliness isn’t an issue today. However, I might be surprised by who the lonely people around me are. Loneliness doesn’t care whether I’m beautiful, wealthy, successful, or popular. Even married people can be lonely; some couples never share any true intimacy, closeness, and fellowship. The pandemic has made it clear that no one is immune to loneliness. Eventually, each one of us experiences it.

When I’m lonely, Jesus understands and he wants to provide relief. The ultimate way that Jesus can relieve my loneliness is by making me part of his family. Through his own lonely death and then his Resurrection, Jesus made it possible for me to belong to God’s family.

When I’m part of God’s family, I still may face seasons when I feel lonely. But I will never truly be alone again.

In summary, Jesus was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. He was despised, and held in low esteem. If I ever wake up feeling lonely, God can say: “I understand exactly how you feel.” God will be with me during this or any other difficult season. Jesus was despised and rejected by the people he created. He experienced loneliness throughout his entire life. During his final hours, Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. Since Jesus had a need for human companionship, he took his three best friends, and said to them, “Stay here and keep alert with me.” But they fell asleep! Jesus must have felt so lonely at that moment. The next day, he was nailed to a cross, where he cried out, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” Jesus was carrying the sins of the world, the Father couldn’t look at sin, at him. In that time Jesus was truly alone. So Jesus knows what it’s like to feel lonely. And he wants to relieve my loneliness. He cares about me and wants to help me. I might also be surprised by who the lonely people around me are. No one is immune to loneliness. When I’m lonely, Jesus understands and he wants to provide relief. The ultimate way that Jesus can relieve my loneliness is by making me part of his family. Through his own lonely death and then his Resurrection, Jesus made it possible. I still may face seasons when I feel lonely. But I will never truly be alone again because I am part of his family.

Who would believe that God would choose to save the world through a humble, suffering servant rather than a glorious king? The idea is contrary to human pride and worldly ways of thinking. But God often works in ways I don't expect. The Messiah's strength is shown by humility, suffering and mercy. 

Father, thank you for Your Word and Jesus as my savior and example. You want me and I need you in my life. Please give me Your strength for today and remind me in little ways that I can always believe in, have faith in and can trust you in everything. This includes being the authority for my life, the source of my self-worth and my hope for the future. You have my best interests in mind. So I ask you to help me to embrace the way you’ve made me; my gifting and passions. Help me to serve and fulfill the mission you have in mind for me.