Plan It Out

If you're like me, planning is a necessity. As someone with fairly severe ADHD, it is hard for me to stay on tasks without writing it all down. But, what happens when an item is missed or my plans fall through?

I struggle with anxiety and stress, and it is made worse by my ADHD because no matter how organized I try to be, things just seem to never go my way. I used to let that be a defining factor in my mood. If one little thing went wrong, I'd convince myself everything that day would fall apart. I'd get depressed, upset, and stop trying to complete the other things on my list. If this sounds familiar, keep reading. :)

God opened my eyes one day to show me that my plans are not the plans that matter.

It is 100% okay to still plan things out.

We are busy creatures by nature, so planning out things can be very beneficial. Try not to let it overwhelm you, however, when you have to swap things around. If you are anything like me, your to-do list could swallow you and your entire family whole. One thing I've learned to do is prioritize, but even then, THINGS HAPPEN. Sometimes we still don't check off those things that absolutely should have been done today.

Maybe you didn't get to that 3rd lesson for your kids. You may have had to reschedule your hair appointment because a kiddo got sick. Perhaps you had to reschedule a meeting at work because you had a flat tire. Is it inconvenient? Absolutely. Are you a failure? Definitely not. In fact, these little inconveniences could have been your saving grace.

Have you ever ran late because of a traffic jam only to realize had you not gotten caught in it, you would have most likely been in the wreck that caused the jam in the first place? When something doesn't go as you planned, instead of getting super upset, pray for peace from the annoyance of having to move things around and ask God for perspective on the situation. Try to see the positives that might have come from it rather than blaming yourself or feeling down because your ever-growing list is still growing.

His plans are greater.

The best lesson I have learned recently is that no matter what I write in my planner and how many times I cross off and rewrite or reschedule, the plans I make for myself are worldly plans. Getting my living room clean will not be a matter of life or death. Getting to that dentist appointment 10 minutes late won't get you fired from your job. It is okay to slow down and breathe.

When your plans seem to be crumbling before your eyes and you feel like you can't stay afloat, remember that you don't have to hold yourself up. God has you. In fact, as your plans are falling through, God's plans are most likely falling into place. He isn't doing this to hurt you or to make you feel like you are failing at your job, failing your family, or just failing in life. He is doing this so he can put us in line to have the best future possible. The future he plans for us is far greater than anything we can plan up for ourselves. Our plans are of the world, but His plans are eternal.

Jeremiah 29:11 states, "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."