My Five-Year Plan

About a year ago, a woman walked into The Community Oasis at Be Love Give Love and started asking me about the vision behind everything.

Then she asked,

“What’s your five-year plan?”

I smiled and said,

“Trust God.”

She laughed a little and asked again.

“No… really. What’s your five-year plan?”

I smiled.

“Seriously… that’s my answer.

I’m going to trust God.”

She looked a little puzzled.

I don’t think my answer fit the conversation she expected to have.

The truth is…

If you had met me many years ago, my answer would have been completely different.

I wanted a plan for everything.

Goals.

Timelines.

Schedules.

Strategies.

I wanted to know exactly where I was headed before I ever took the first step.

Then, back in 2002, during the very beginning of my journey with God, I sensed Him whisper something that has stayed with me ever since:

“Don’t live your life by forced rules, schedules, goals, or agendas.”

That wasn’t an overnight transformation.

It became an invitation.

An invitation to loosen my grip.

Little by little…

Year after year…

I stopped trying to control every detail and began learning to follow peace instead.

Not passively.

Not carelessly.

But one faithful step at a time.

A gentle nudge.

A little breadcrumb.

A little more clarity.

Then another step.

If someone had asked me five years ago where I’d be today…

I would have described something very different from the season I’m actually living.

I never would have imagined opening The Community Oasis.

And I certainly never would have imagined closing that chapter just two years later.

But that’s exactly why I no longer cling too tightly to my own plans.

I’ve watched God redirect my steps too many times.

Sometimes He gently nudges.

Sometimes He completely changes the direction.

And every single time…

Looking back…

I can see His faithfulness woven through it all.

One verse has become deeply personal to me:

“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”
— Proverbs 16:9 (NIV)

I still make plans.

I still work hard.

I still dream.

But I’ve learned to hold those dreams with open hands.

Because I’ve discovered something better than having my whole life mapped out.

I’ve discovered the peace that comes from trusting the One who already knows the way.

So if you asked me today what my five-year plan is…

My answer hasn’t changed.

Trust God.

Then take the next peaceful step He places in front of me.

~~~~~~~

Part of the Breadcrumbs collection by Abby Lewis—true stories that leave room for God to speak.