Personal plans get altered, many times for reasons beyond your control. (Even the apostle Paul had to adjust his schedule. c.f. 1 Thessalonians 2:17-20) When plans go haywire does it mean you are out of God’s will? Not necessarily. In the matter of seeking God’s will two extremes must be avoided. One is to be so frightened at making a mistake that no decision is made at all. The ditch on the other side of the road is to make impulsive decisions, rushing ahead of the Lord. The stewardship of opportunity is important. Don’t complain about or fear the obstacles. Instead, take advantage of the opportunities, and trust God with the results.

This verse issues a command to hope fully in God’s grace. The command is augmented by two stir sticks of hope. The first is to “gird up the loins of your mind.” That is a metaphor which sounds odd now, but would not have been in Peter’s day. In that culture, before quick, decisive movements could be made, one must gather up and secure long, flowing garments to reduce the risk of tripping and falling. The second stir stick of hope is mental and spiritual sobriety. Do not allow stuff into your mind (and heart) that will numb you to the value of God’s grace. Brace yourself in the truth of scripture. Guard your hope by the grace of God

One critical decision often determines whether a company thrives or flounders. That was Malcolm Gladwell’s observation in The Tipping Point. That book was not targeted to believers, but the principle applies to them. Are you at a tipping point? Faced with a difficult decision or a serious situation? There is only way to thrive rather than flounder. Trust God. This means obey His Word. That requires sacrificing your agenda for His greater purposes. This will always work out for your good and His glory. Surrendering to God is resisting the devil. That is the tipping point to victory, both now and for eternity.