Tell God Your Plans… and Make Him Laugh

Opening Scripture

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.”— Proverbs 19:21

Introduction

There’s an old saying: “If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans.”

Now, God is not laughing in mockery. He is not amused by our dreams or ambitions. But

He knows something we often forget:

We see a moment. God sees eternity.

We plan from limited knowledge. God acts from perfect wisdom.

And yet, we are very confident planners.

We plan our careers. We plan our relationships. We plan our finances. We plan our futures.

And often, we present those plans to God not as prayers, but as announcements:

“God, this is what I’m doing. Please bless it.”

But Scripture teaches something radically different.

Point 1: Planning Without God Is Practical Atheism

“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town…’ yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring.”— James 4:13–14

James isn’t condemning planning. He is condemning presumption.

There is a difference between:

• Planning with humility

• Planning with arrogance

Arrogance says:

“I’ve got this.”

Faith says:

“Lord, if You will.”

James continues:

“Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’”— James 4:15

Planning without God doesn’t mean you deny His existence. It means you ignore His authority.

And when we do that, we subtly place ourselves on the throne.

Point 2: God’s Will Is Not Your Enemy

Many believers fear God’s will.

They think:

• “What if God’s will ruins my plans?”

• “What if He takes something away?”

• “What if He says no?”

But Scripture says:

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD… plans for welfare and not for evil.”— Jeremiah 29:11

God’s will is not designed to destroy you. It is designed to save you from what would destroy you.

Some of the greatest heartbreaks in life come not from unanswered prayers, but from answered prayers that were never God’s will.

Sometimes God says no because He loves you too much to say yes.

Point 3: Asking God Means Submitting, Not Controlling

Jesus Himself modeled this.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, facing the cross, He prayed:

“Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me.Nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.”— Luke 22:42

Jesus asked. But He surrendered.

Prayer is not about bending God’s will to match ours. Prayer is about bending our will to match His.

When we pray, we are not informing God. We are aligning with God.

That’s why Scripture says:

“This is the confidence we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”— 1 John 5:14

God is not a genie. He is a Father.

And a good Father gives what is good — not what is merely desired.

Point 4: Trusting God Requires Letting Go

Trust is easy when God agrees with us. Trust is tested when He redirects us.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”— Proverbs 3:5

Notice it doesn’t say:

“Lean a little.”

It says:

“Do not lean.”

Our understanding is limited. God’s is infinite.

When we insist on our way, we may get what we want —but miss what God intended.

Sometimes God allows our plans to fail, not to punish us, but to position us.

Point 5: God’s Delays Are Not Denials

One of the hardest lessons in faith is waiting.

Abraham waited decades for Isaac. Joseph waited years in prison. David waited before becoming king.

But God was not late.

“The LORD is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness.”— 2 Peter 3:9

God’s timing is perfect, even when it feels painful.

When we trust Him, we learn this truth:

• A closed door can be protection.

• A delay can be preparation.

• A detour can be divine direction.

Conclusion: From Control to Confidence

So yes — tell God your plans.

But don’t cling to them.

Lay them down. Submit them. Surrender them.

Say:

“Lord, here is what I desire —but more than that, I desire You.”

Because when God laughs at our plans, it is not cruel laughter —it is the laughter of a Father who knows a better ending.

And when we finally trust Him fully, we discover something beautiful:

God’s will is not safer because it’s predictable —it’s safer because He is good.

Closing Prayer

Father,

We confess that we often trust our plans more than Your promises. Teach us to ask boldly, but surrender fully. Help us to trust Your will, even when we don’t understand it.We place our future, our dreams, and our desires in Your hands. Not our will, but Yours be done.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.