3 Roadblocks to Following God’s Plan for Your Life (and How to Overcome Them)

Today, I want to address a few common things that try to hinder us from following God’s plan for our lives and how we can overcome these obstacles.

1. Doubt

Perhaps you’ve heard Jeremiah 29:11 before. You’ve read it on a card or maybe in someone’s bio on Instagram. You’ve heard that God has good plans for your life and that He desires to give you a bright future.

Yet, maybe in the back of your mind, you wonder if God truly does have good plans for you.

Let me remind you today that God has not forgotten you. You are not an accident or an afterthought. God knew you before you were born, and He placed you here on this earth at this moment in history for a purpose. He knows the number of hairs on your head, and more than that, He knows you.

The next time doubt tries to creep in, remember these truths from His unchanging Word:

• God has a plan for your life and a future filled with hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)
• God knew you before you were born. (Jeremiah 1:5)
• God wrote the days of your life in His book before they began. (Psalm 139:16)

He sees you. He knows you. He loves you.

2. Distraction

Another roadblock to following God’s plan that we all face is distraction.

Perhaps you know Jeremiah 29:11 is true, and you’re encouraged and expectant about what God has promised for your life.

Yet, somewhere along the way, you’ve been wandering, tossed this way and that by the cares of the world.

Maybe you know that Netflix or scrolling endlessly on social media has consumed too much of your time. Maybe comparison makes you feel rushed to enter a relationship before the time is right. Or maybe you find yourself consumed with keeping up with the latest brands and products that you feel will help you fit in with the crowd.

Distractions abound in the world that we live in. Even good things can sometimes hinder us from pursuing God’s plan and what He has called us to focus on during this season.

Busyness is often seen as productivity.

But productivity in God’s eyes is spending our time on what He has personally commissioned us to do.

And more than our calling, productivity in the Kingdom is knowing Him.

Jesus taught us that fruitfulness comes from abiding in Him, which means staying in continual fellowship with Him. It does not come from doing more and running faster.

I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)

Distraction will come for us all, but we must choose to fight it through prayer, seeking the Lord, and focusing on what He has assigned us to in a particular season of life.

That assignment for you right now might be raising children, starting a project, learning new skills, or stepping out in faith at work. I don’t know where you find yourself today, but I would encourage you to ask the Lord to show you what you are to focus on and what distractions are hindering you right now.

I can tell you from experience that as you purpose to remain focused on your calling, the Lord will help you overcome the things that try to pull you away and hold you back. He has done it for me, and I believe that He will do it for you too!

3. Discouragement

This last roadblock is one that I have definitely faced, and I believe all of us will face it at some point in our journey.

After all, discouragement came for Elijah just after a great victory in his ministry (see 1 Kings 19:4).

So, what makes us think those same tactics of the enemy won’t be used against us today?

Yes, sometimes we are discouraged because we’ve had a hard week or a hard season, and we need some extra Sabbath rest. But sometimes, the discouragement we face is part of the spiritual warfare against us, and we cannot afford to be passive.

Sometimes, we need to take action against it through praise and prayer. Other times, we simply need to rebuke discouragement in the name of Jesus.

Remember, when we sign up to do the work of the Lord, we are going to face opposition. We are going to have to fight spiritually at times. But we do not fight in our own strength. God is with us, and He will give us the strength to keep moving forward.

God has a great plan for your life, and He will help you overcome the obstacles thrown your way!