Calvary Closets Blog
Thoughts from a Prayer Closet - RISE UP! When God Changes The Plan
There is something about a closet. It is a place where we store things we want to keep close—things we need, things we treasure, and sometimes things we simply are not ready to let go of. Closets can also become places where things get tucked away, out of sight and out of mind. But every now and then, we open the door, take a good look, and realize that it is time to make room for something new.
Perhaps our spiritual lives can be like that, too. Sometimes God asks us to let go of what we thought our lives would look like so He can make room for what He has planned. Proverbs 19:21 (NIV) says, "Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." Sometimes we hold tightly to our own plans, dreams, and expectations because they are familiar, but God may be inviting us to open a new door, trust Him, and step into something we never expected. Recently, the Lord led me to the book of Ezekiel. I began exploring Ezekiel’s life to discover what his story might teach us about trusting God when life does not unfold the way we expected.
Ezekiel came from a high-ranking priestly family and was born around 622 BCE. He was raised during a time of national revival under King Josiah, when the Book of the Law was rediscovered and the people were being called back to God. Ezekiel was being prepared to become a priest, but before he could fully step into that calling, everything changed.
Around the age of 25, Ezekiel was taken captive by the Babylonians during the second wave of the Babylonian exile. He was uprooted from Jerusalem and brought to Tel-Abib among the Jewish exiles. Imagine a young man who had trained to become a priest suddenly finding himself far from home, far from the Temple, and far from the future he had envisioned. Everything familiar had been disrupted.
And perhaps that is why Ezekiel’s story speaks to us. Have you, too, been snatched away from something you were not ready to walk away from? Have you ever watched your plans fall apart or found yourself facing a sudden change in direction? Have you ever wondered, “What do I do now?” Maybe you have experienced a season of disappointment, confusion, or spiritual stagnation, waiting for God to show you what comes next.
Even though Ezekiel wanted to be a priest, God had another purpose for his life. Ezekiel 2:1-2 (NKJV) says, “And He said to me, ‘Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak to you.’ Then the Spirit entered me when He spoke to me, and set me on my feet; and I heard Him who spoke to me.” God called him to be a prophet and watchman for Israel, giving him extraordinary visions and using him to speak truth, correction, and hope to His people. What may have appeared to be the end of Ezekiel’s calling became the beginning of a ministry far greater than he could have imagined that still impacts us today.
His story reminds us that when our plans are interrupted, it does not mean God has abandoned us. What feels like a closed door or a disappointing detour may actually be His direction and preparation for something we cannot yet see. When we gave our lives to Christ, we surrendered not only our sins, but also our plans, desires, ambitions, and expectations, trusting that His plans are greater than ours and His purpose is higher than anything we could ever conjure up ourselves.
Sometimes, just like a closet that needs to be cleared out to make room for something new, our hearts and lives need to make room for God’s plans. We may need to release an old expectation, a disappointment, or even a dream we thought was meant to be, trusting that what God has for us is worth making room for.
Ezekiel’s story did not end with exile. Through his message, the people were reminded that their relationship with God was not dependent upon a place or circumstance. Even in exile, God was present, and restoration was still possible.
So, I want to ask you: Do you feel like you are standing in a valley of dry bones? Are you grieving something that didn’t happen as you hoped? Are you waiting for God to breathe new life into an area that feels dry, stagnant, or hopeless? Are you waiting for new direction?
The same God who met Ezekiel in exile is the God who meets us in our uncertainty and our waiting. He can bring purpose from disappointment, life from dry places, and hope when we feel as if we have none. All we have to do is listen for His voice, RISE UP, step through the next open door, and follow His will for our lives. We can trust that He is working even when we cannot see it, and that in His hands, we find hope for our future.
