When Your Plans Fall Apart

When our carefully laid plans crumble before our eyes, we often feel robbed of our dreams and left standing in the wreckage of what we thought God promised us. Yet the story of Joseph in Matthew's Gospel reveals a profound truth: when our story feels like it's falling apart, God is actually building something better. Joseph had every right to feel betrayed when he discovered Mary was pregnant with a child that wasn't his. His dreams of marriage, his reputation, his entire future seemed destroyed in an instant. But rather than reacting in anger or seeking vindication, Joseph chose righteousness over revenge, obedience over understanding. He couldn't see it in the moment, but he wasn't being robbed—he was being positioned to become the legal father of the Messiah, the one who would redeem all humanity. This narrative challenges us to examine how we respond when falsely accused, when plans implode, when doors slam shut. Do we fight for our reputation, or do we leave room for God's wrath and vindication? The genealogy Matthew presents is equally revolutionary, including five women—some non-Jewish, some with scandalous pasts—reminding us that Jesus came from a flawed line because He came to seek and save sinners. When we release our grip on our own plans and trust God's timing, we position ourselves not just for personal blessing but to become conduits of blessing for generations to come. The question isn't whether God will work—it's whether we'll trust Him enough to let Him dismantle our plans so He can reveal His.