Be Open To Change
Verses Used
Proverbs 16:9
Proverbs 3:5–6
James 4:13–15
Isaiah 55:8–9
Romans 8:28
Philippians 4:19
1 Thessalonians 5:21
Devotional
God sometimes throws the curve balls, doesn’t He?
Or maybe it would be more accurate to say life throws the curve balls, and God somehow uses them to lead us somewhere we never expected to go.
Either way, God’s plan is always better than mine—even when I have NO clue what God is doing, why God is doing it, or what any of it will become.
I know I touched on a lot of this in my last devotional, but it’s what is on my heart again today. I almost always use my own life and experiences when I write these devotionals and blogs. That’s just how I write. I hope somewhere in my rambling, somebody else can look at what God is doing in my life and recognize something God may be doing in theirs too.
If you have been following along here or on God’s Grace Studios Facebook, you know that in June 2025 I quit my job to become a caregiver for my mom.
It is a role I gladly accepted, and I would make that decision again.
Do I enjoy every moment of it? Nope.
Every day? Definitely not.
But it is still a blessing to be here and be able to help her.
The change did create another problem, though: money got tighter. Her monthly retirement takes care of the bills, but it doesn’t cover everything. And getting a normal part-time job somewhere isn’t really an option because I need the ability to drop what I’m doing and get home at a moment’s notice.
Not many employers put “leave whenever you need to” in the job description.
When the Plan Keeps Changing
So I believed God was leading me to start God’s Grace Studios and hopefully create some income through Christ-centered clothing, gifts, woodworking, and other items.
Surely that stuff would sell, right?
Right?
Hmm...
Well... it hasn’t exactly taken off yet.
I did sell at least 100 planters this spring!
Yippee!
But unless everybody suddenly decides they need a new planter every week, that probably isn’t a sustainable year-round business plan. And my other items? People love to see them.. but buying them is not on the table.
So I started feeling pulled more toward the ministry side of God’s Grace Studios. Like God was saying focus more here. I started my Giving It Forward page on Facebook, and honestly, I love doing it. We have helped a lot of people, and I still have things people have donated that I’m waiting to give to somebody who needs them.
Sometimes donated items are sold, but that money goes right back into helping—gas, repairs on donated items, and other expenses. I don’t take anything personally from that fund, and I never plan to.
But while doing all of this, I started noticing something.
A lot of people simply needed rides.
Maybe the trolley wasn’t running. Maybe the senior transportation service wasn’t available. Maybe someone couldn’t use those services because of health issues. Sometimes somebody just needed to get somewhere quickly.
And before long, a lot of my Giving It Forward work involved transportation.
Funny how God can take something you think is going in one direction and slowly turn the wheel.
Proverbs 16:9 says that we can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.
That verse feels very real to me right now.
A Road I Didn’t Expect
Back in 2016, I was part owner of a cab company.
And I loved it.
Still, if you would have asked me even a little while ago if I planned on opening another taxi service, I probably would have laughed.
That wasn’t the plan.
Woodworking was the plan.
God’s Grace Studios merchandise was the plan.
But after seeing the transportation need, I started praying.
Then I started thinking—which can be dangerous, I know.
I talked everything over with Mom and a few friends and decided to start looking more seriously into what opening another cab company would actually involve.
Then a van basically fell into my lap.
Not new.
Not perfect.
But solid and strong.
Mom and I talked about it, looked at the situation, and decided to buy it.
And here we are.
I NEVER saw myself opening another taxi service.
I never saw myself putting woodworking on the back burner.
But maybe woodworking becomes a hobby for a while. Maybe it stays part-time. Maybe someday it becomes something bigger again.
I honestly don’t know yet.
And that is kind of the point.
Stay Willing to Turn
Proverbs 3:5–6 reminds us not to depend completely on our own understanding but to seek God’s direction.
That can be hard.
We like knowing what comes next.
I definitely do.
I would love for God to hand me a detailed business plan with dates, income projections, step-by-step instructions, and maybe a nice little note saying, “Yep, this is exactly what happens next.”
God usually doesn’t work that way.
Isaiah 55:8–9 reminds us that God’s thoughts and ways are higher than ours.
That means sometimes the road makes absolutely no sense while we are driving it.
We might understand it later.
Maybe days later.
Maybe months later.
Maybe years later.
But I do know this: if I had refused to change direction simply because woodworking was my plan, I might have missed what was happening right in front of me.
James 4:13–15 warns us about confidently declaring exactly what tomorrow will look like without leaving room for God’s will.
Planning isn’t wrong.
Dreaming isn’t wrong.
Working toward something isn’t wrong.
But holding those plans so tightly that God can’t redirect us? That becomes a problem.
Listen, But Test It
I will be the first person to tell you that I have no idea what God has planned next.
I know what I dream will happen.
But my dream may not completely match God’s plan.
And I’m learning to be okay with that.
So be open to change.
Pay attention when something inside you keeps saying, yes, move this direction or no, don’t go there.
But I also want to add something important: not every feeling we have automatically comes from God.
First Thessalonians 5:21 tells us to test everything and hold on to what is good.
So pray about it.
Compare it with Scripture.
Look at whether the direction honors God.
Seek wise advice.
And then sometimes... take the step.
If you’re anything like me, hearing God’s direction can feel difficult.
I often wonder what I’ve missed.
I wonder how many times God was trying to redirect me and I was too busy staring at my own plans to notice.
But I’m still learning.
Still growing.
Still changing.
And thankfully, God is still working.
Romans 8:28 reminds us that God works things together for the good of those who love God and are called according to God’s purpose.
That doesn’t mean everything that happens feels good.
It means God can use things we never expected.
Maybe This Is a Breakthrough
I believe God will provide.
Philippians 4:19 reminds us that God supplies what we need.
Do I know exactly how?
No.
Do I know exactly when?
Definitely not.
Right now, though, this feels like some kind of breakthrough.
Maybe I’ll look back six months from now and realize this was the moment everything started changing.
Maybe I’ll realize it was just one small step toward something completely different.
I won’t know until later.
And maybe you are standing somewhere similar today.
Maybe the thing you thought would happen isn’t happening.
Maybe something you were sure was your future suddenly seems like it is moving to the back burner.
Maybe another door is cracking open that you never even considered walking through.
Don’t be so committed to your own picture of the future that you refuse to let God redraw it.
Make your plans.
Dream big.
Work hard.
But keep your hands open.
Be open to change.
Keep praying.
Keep testing the direction against Scripture.
Keep your eyes focused on God.
And when God makes it clear that it is time to turn...
turn.
I have no clue exactly where this road is going.
But I hope you follow along.
Have an amazing day, guys.
God bless.
Prayer
God, I have plans, dreams, and ideas about where I think my life should go, but I know I cannot see everything You see. Help me stay open when You redirect my steps. Give me wisdom to know the difference between my own feelings and Your direction. Help me test everything against Your Word and have the courage to move when You make the next step clear. Provide what I need, help me trust You when I don’t understand, and keep my heart willing to change. In Jesus’ name, amen.
📚 Read More Devotionals → Click Here
🐴 Enjoy Brother Deacon Comics → Click Here
📖 Need a Bible?
Read online or download the free Bible app. → Click Here
🛍️ Support God's Grace Studios
Every purchase helps support our ministry and allows us to continue creating devotionals, comics, Christian apparel, woodworking projects, and encouraging content.
Browse Our Products → Click Here
🎨 Custom Orders & Free Gifts
Looking for a custom gift, sign, woodworking project, or apparel?
Contact Us → Click Here
Don't miss out on free content!
Subscribe to receive:
📖 Daily Devotionals
🐴 Brother Deacon Comics
🎁 Promotions & Special Offers
📱 FREE Monthly Phone Wallpapers
Subscribe Here → Click Here
