When Life Interrupts Your Plans: Learning to Take the Next Right Step

Have you ever had your plans change in a matter of hours?

Sometimes an unexpected phone call, health concern, family situation or change in circumstances can completely rearrange what you thought the next few days—or even the next few months—would look like.

I’ve been reminded of that recently.

My husband, Charles, had been dealing with a significant reaction to poison ivy. We went in for treatment, expecting that to be the main concern. Instead, during that visit, the medical team noticed that his pulse was unusually low and recommended that he go to the hospital for additional testing.

Thankfully, the tests came back fine. Charles is now home and wearing a heart monitor for a period of time so his doctors can continue monitoring him.

But our plans changed.

An event I had been preparing for had to be canceled. My schedule changed. My attention shifted from everything I had planned to being home and taking care of my husband.

And that experience reminded me of something I think we all need to remember:

Changing the plan doesn’t mean you’re moving backward.

Sometimes life asks us to pause and we need to take care of what’s directly in front of us.

We need to release an expectation, adjust our schedule and give ourselves permission to respond to the season we’re actually living in.

That isn’t failure.

It’s life.

Getting Back Into a Rhythm

After several days of being home, I began gradually returning to some of my normal activities.

I taught my voice students.

Had our ministry board meeting as we prepared for an upcoming event.

Began thinking again about the work, people and opportunities that had been temporarily put on hold.

Those things may sound ordinary, but there was something meaningful about returning to them.

Sometimes getting back into a routine is exactly what we need.

Not because everything is back to normal, but because we’re learning how to move forward within a new normal.

What Does “The Next Right Step” Look Like?

When circumstances change, we can easily become overwhelmed by everything that needs to happen next.

I’ve found it more helpful to ask a smaller question:

What is the next right step?

Not the next ten steps, or the entire plan.

Just the next one.

Maybe it’s making a phone call, resting, going to an appointment, or returning an email.

Could be teaching the lesson you’ve already committed to.

Spending an afternoon with someone you love and getting outside and taking a long breath.

Small steps still move us forward.

Unexpected Changes Can Teach Us Something

I’ve also been thinking about connection.

We often plan our lives around events, schedules and activities. But when those plans change, we may discover that what matters most isn’t the event itself.

It’s the people.

The conversations, relationships, listening to others and the chance to encourage someone.

Meaningful change doesn’t happen in a crowd.

It can happen one person at a time.

That has made me more intentional about the people around me and about being willing to have a conversation, make a phone call or simply show up.

Seasons Change

The Bible reminds us in Ecclesiastes 3 that there is a season and a time for the different experiences of life.

I don’t believe that means every difficult circumstance has a simple explanation.

It does remind me, however, that life is made up of seasons—and seasons change.

Our families change, health changes, work changes, voices change, priorities change, and even our responsibilities change.

Sometimes our sense of purpose changes, too.

We don’t always get to choose what happens next.

But we can choose how we respond.

We can pay attention, learn, make adjustments, and we can take the next right step.

What About You?

Perhaps something in your life hasn’t gone according to the plan you had.

Maybe you’re caring for someone.

Beginning a new chapter.

Dealing with a change you didn’t expect.

Or perhaps you’re simply trying to find your rhythm again.

You don’t have to figure everything out today.

Ask yourself:

What is one next step I can take?

Then take that step.

And when you’re ready, take the next one.

Strengthen your health. Find your voice. Live out your purpose.

Pam Foster