Servias Ministries Blog

What is God doing when things don’t work out like you planned?

We are to shift from merely knowing about God to truly knowing Him.  We should expect detours and crises which are often part of a Divine plan for protection, provision, and destiny.

Wisdom wrote in Proverbs chapter 3:

5 Trust in the Lord completely, and do not rely on your own opinions. With all your heart rely on Him to guide you, and He will lead you in every decision you make.

In order to fully trust HIM, you must fully surrender to HIM.  My opinion has only limited value because I inherently have limited understanding, knowledge, and skill.

Great leaders, like Moses, struggled with the distinction of knowing GOD versus knowing about GOD.

Moses recorded by The Holy Spirit in Exodus chapter 33:

12 Then Moses said to the LORD, “See, You say to me, ‘Bring up this people.’ But You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found grace in My Sight.’

13 Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people.”

14 And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

15 Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.

Moses fully acknowledged his own limitations thus he needed supernatural direction and participation to carry out his calling.  FATHER was more than willing to oblige his request.

David wrote by The Holy Spirit in Psalm chapter 103:

7 He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.

We need to prioritize learning God’s “ways” to avoid being misled and to gain Wisdom for our life’s decisions.  I learned this necessity the hard way at certain times in my life.  I am sure that I am not alone in life’s challenges.

David faced repeated trials—running from Saul, living in the wilderness, and finding himself at a low point in Ziklag.  When David returned to Ziklag to find it destroyed and his family taken, his men threatened to stone him.

David responded by “strengthening himself in the Lord”—a pivotal moment where he remembered God’s faithfulness and promises before seeking Him for guidance.

It is recorded by The Holy Spirit in 1^st Samuel chapter 30:

6 Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.

There were six ways God was at work in David’s apparent defeat.

First, THE LORD protected him from being forced to kill Saul by having the Philistine lords reject David and his men before the battle began.

Second, THE LORD provided for him through the plunder of the Amalekites.

17 Then David attacked them from twilight until the evening of the next day. Not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men who rode on camels and fled.

18 So David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away, and David rescued his two wives.

19 And nothing of theirs was lacking, either small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything which they had taken from them; David recovered all.

20 Then David took all the flocks and herds they had driven before those other livestock, and said, “This is David’s spoil.”

Thirdly, THE LORD propelled him toward his destiny by leading him to Ziklag.

1 Now it happened, when David and his men came to Ziklag, on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire,

2 and had taken captive the women and those who were there, from small to great; they did not kill anyone, but carried them away and went their way.

Fourth, this produced a crisis that (fifth) rallied men to his leadership which

resulted in David being promoted through his handling of the crisis.

Finally, the prophet led by THE SPIRIT, pronounced his David’s kingship by granting him favor with the people.

I can’t stress enough the importance of renewing the mind through Scripture.  I would encourage you to study the Bible with the question “Why did You do it that way and not another way?” to uncover the nature and ways of God.  FATHER will disclose HIS Ways to those who ask.

Let us draw closer to GOD!

It is all about our closeness to HIS Presence.

Moses recorded by The Holy Spirit in Exodus chapter 33:

12 Then Moses said to the LORD, “See, You say to me, ‘Bring up this people.’ But You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found grace in My sight.’

FATHER also knows you and me by name.

13 Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people.”

14 And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

15 Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.

16 For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth.”

17 So the LORD said to Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name.”

18 And he said, “Please, show me Your glory.”

19 Then He said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”

There were three things Moses asked of GOD since He knew Moses by name:

Show me Your Ways

I want Your Presence to go with us

I want to see Your Glory

David wrote by The Holy Spirit in Psalm chapter 103:

7 He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.

As we spend time with THE LORD, we will come to know HIS ways, HIS nature, and HIS expectations.  Israel saw God’s acts (miracles, provision, judgments), but Moses came to know God’s ways — His nature and intentions.

We should seek God Himself, not only His blessings.  Many people seek answers,

protection, provision, experiences, and miracles.  On the other hand, Moses pursued a close relationship with FATHER.

God’s ways become clearer through relationship, not merely information.

As we spend time in Scripture, our relationship with HIM will grow closer.

The Bible repeatedly reveals how God thinks, what He Loves, what He hates,

how He deals with people, His justice, His mercy, His Holiness, and His patience.

Especially important are:

the Gospels for seeing Jesus,

Psalms for understanding God’s Heart,

Proverbs for Wisdom,

the prophets for God’s warnings and purposes.

According to the New Testament, Jesus Christ is the clearest revelation of God’s Nature:

Jesus spoke in John chapter 14:

7 “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”

8 Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”

9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father‘?

We are to obey what we already understand.  Scripture connects understanding with obedience.  People often want deeper revelation while ignoring what is already clear.

Jesus spoke in John chapter 7:

16 So Jesus responded, “I don’t teach My own ideas, but the Truth revealed to Me by the One Who sent Me.

17 If you want to test My teachings and discover where I received them, first be passionate to do God’s will, and then you will be able to discern if My teachings are from the Heart of God or from My own opinions.

Spiritual understanding grows through practiced obedience.  There are times we will learn through trials and suffering.  Many people discover God’s ways most deeply during hardship.

Trials can teach dependence, humility, perseverance, trust, compassion, and surrender.  Often shows God using hardship to shape people.

We are to pray for Wisdom and discernment.  We are encouraged to ask God for Wisdom.  “Lord, teach me Your ways and keep me from deception.”

We are to walk in reverence and humility, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom.”  We are to approach God with reverence, openness, and willingness to be corrected.

Pride blinds people to God’s ways; humility makes a person teachable.

God’s ways are consistently marked by Truth, Holiness, mercy, justice, patience, faithfulness, Love, and righteousness.  Anything that contradicts His revealed Character should be tested carefully.

Many want:

power without Holiness,

blessings without surrender,

answers without transformation.

But knowing God’s ways changes the person:

how they think,

treat others,

respond to pressure,

use authority,

handle suffering,

pursue Truth.

To know the ways of God is to seek Him sincerely, study His Word, obey Him,

remain humble and teachable, walk with Him through life, and gradually learn His Heart, Wisdom, and Character through relationship and faithfulness.

As we humble ourselves in HIS Presence, we will be able to take a decisive stand against the adversary!

It is all about our closeness to HIS Presence.

Peter wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1^st Peter chapter 5:

6 If you bow low in God’s Awesome Presence, HE will eventually exalt you as you leave the timing in HIS Hands.

7 Pour out all your worries and stress upon Him and leave them there, for He always tenderly cares for you.

8 Be well balanced and always alert, because your enemy, the devil, roams around incessantly, like a roaring lion looking for its prey to devour.

9 Take a decisive stand against him and resist his every attack with strong, vigorous faith. For you know that your believing brothers and sisters around the world are experiencing the same kinds of troubles you endure.

1] And then, after your brief suffering, the God of all Loving grace, Who has called you to share in His Eternal glory in Christ, will personally and powerfully restore you and make you stronger than ever. Yes, HE will set you firmly in place and build you up. 

Yes, we are being tested and strengthened IN HIM.  We are not to fear the devil but instead we are to take a decisive stand against him.

Taking a decisive stand against the devil means actively resisting evil, deception, temptation, and spiritual compromise by standing firmly in loyalty and trust in God, Truth, and righteousness. It is not mainly about aggression, fear, or dramatic confrontation — it is about steadfast faith, obedience, discernment, and endurance.

James wrote by The Holy Spirit in James 4:

7 So then, surrender to God. Stand up to the devil and resist him and he will flee in agony.

8 Move your heart closer and closer to God, and He will come even closer to you. But make sure you cleanse your life, you sinners, and keep your heart pure and stop doubting.

FATHER equipped us to deal with the adversary.  We must trust in this Truth and reality.

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Ephesians chapter 6:

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

1] Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

The emphasis is repeatedly on standing firm.

What does “standing firm” look like from a practical standpoint?

1. Refusing agreement with lies

The devil is described as “the father of lies” in Gospel of John 8:44.

A decisive stand means rejecting thoughts, beliefs, or influences that contradict God’s Truth.

Examples:

refusing bitterness even when wounded

refusing despair when pressured

refusing compromise for personal gain

refusing false teaching or manipulation

2. Choosing obedience even when costly

The stand becomes decisive when a person settles beforehand:

“I will obey God even if it costs comfort, approval, money, reputation, or ease.”

This is similar to how Book of Daniel describes Daniel refusing to defile himself in Babylon, or how Jesus resisted temptation in the wilderness.

Jesus’ example:

When tempted by Satan in the wilderness, Jesus Christ answered with Scripture and remained aligned with the Father’s will rather than emotion, appetite, or pride.

3. Remaining spiritually alert

A decisive stand includes vigilance:

guarding what influences your mind

testing teachings and spirits

recognizing temptation early

not becoming spiritually passive

Scripture often connects spiritual danger with drifting, sleeping, or becoming dull-hearted.

4. Standing in faith instead of fear

The New Testament does not teach believers to obsess over the devil.  Instead, it teaches confidence in God’s authority.

A decisive stand is not panic, superstition, seeing demons everywhere, trying to appear spiritually powerful.  It is calm, grounded resistance through faith, Truth, prayer, and obedience.

We are told to persevere under pressure.  This is when our faith is tested.

The enemy’s work in Scripture often includes:

accusation

discouragement

division

temptation

deception

intimidation

So perseverance itself can become Spiritual resistance.

Simply, to take a decisive stand against the devil means fully aligning yourself with God, refusing compromise with evil or deception, resisting temptation and spiritual corruption, remaining faithful under pressure, and standing firm in Truth, prayer, and obedience no matter the cost.

Ministering in authority and power can only be accomplished based on the degree in which we have the fear (reverence) of GOD!

It is easy to be obedient when there is no pressure or suffering involved. 

It is written by The Holy Spirit in Hebrews chapter 5:

7 Who, in the days of His Flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him Who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His Godly Fear,

If Jesus operated in the fullness of Godly Fear and reverence, shouldn’t we?  If Jesus feared GOD, how much more should we fear GOD?  We should be always walking with the mindset of this reverential awe of Divine power!  There is nothing in humanity that even comes close to deserving our reverential awe and worship.

And in Hebrews chapter 4:

14 So then, we must cling in faith to all we know to be True. For we have a magnificent King-Priest, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Who rose into the Heavenly realm for us, and now sympathizes with us in our frailty.

15 He understands humanity, for as a man, our magnificent King-Priest was tempted in every way just as we are, and conquered sin.

16 So now we draw near freely and boldly to where grace is enthroned, to receive mercy’s kiss and discover the grace we urgently need to strengthen us in our time of weakness.

Yes, we can come boldly to The Throne, but it is only because Our King-Priest, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has gained us entrance.  It is by His grace, not our works, that we may come before FATHER.  We can only come boldly to The Throne by protocol.

There is reverential fear and awe of everyone in Heaven, without exception.  There are no uninvited guests who can enter the Throne Room.  We must be summoned!

12 For we have the Living Word of God, which is full of energy, like a two-mouthed sword. It will even penetrate to the very core of our being where soul and spirit, bone and marrow meet! It interprets and reveals the true thoughts and secret motives of our hearts.

13 There is not one person who can hide their thoughts from God, for nothing that we do remains a secret, and nothing created is concealed, but everything is exposed and defenseless before his eyes, to Whom we must render an account.

Given that Truth, are you willing to have all aspects of your life exposed before the Throne of The Creator Who has the sole power over your existence?

Being sacrilegious means treating something Sacred, Holy, or deeply revered with disrespect, contempt, mockery, or misuse.

Something can be sacrilegious when a person:

mocks God or Holy things

treats worship casually or corruptly

uses Sacred things for selfish or sinful purposes

dishonors what God has declared Holy

Examples include:

mocking or taking lightly Holy Communion or baptism

using God’s Name in a deliberately hateful or contemptuous way

turning worship into manipulation or greed

Jesus strongly confronted sacrilegious behavior when He cleansed the temple because people had turned a house of prayer into a marketplace in the Gospel of Matthew 21:13.

Sacrilegious behavior is not merely about breaking religious rules; it is about the condition of the heart toward God and Holy things. Reverence, honor, and sincerity are the opposite spirit of sacrilege.

If we are sacrilegious in any aspect, we will not walk in full power and authority.

Walking in obedience and submission will be tested and will reveal the state of our character!

It is easy to be obedient when there is no pressure or suffering involved. 

It is written by The Holy Spirit in Hebrews chapter 5:

5 So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He Who said to Him: “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.”

6 As He also says in another place: “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek”;

7 Who, in the days of His Flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him Who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His Godly Fear,

8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.

9 And having been perfected, He became the Author of Eternal Salvation to all who obey Him,

Do any of us want to suffer?  Of course not.  However, it may be necessary to suffer as we learn obedience to HIS Word.  It is all about trusting IN HIM!

Luke recorded by The Holy Spirit in Acts chapter 9:

10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”

11 So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying.

12 And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”

13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.

14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your Name.”

15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My Name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.

16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My Name’s sake.” [17] And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, Who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.“

18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.

19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.

Paul who penned 2/3 of the New Testament by The Holy Spirit, suffered for Christ’s Name’s sake, because of his passion for Christ.

Suffering reveals whether our trust in God is genuine.

When life is easy, obedience can remain theoretical. Hardship exposes pride, self-will, fear, impatience, and divided loyalties.

Suffering can train a person to surrender control, persevere, trust God without immediate reward, obey even when emotions resist, and Love Truth more than comfort.

Jame wrote in his Epistle by The Holy Spirit in James chapter 1:

3 For you know that when your faith is tested it stirs up in you the power of endurance.

4 And then as your endurance grows even stronger, it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking.

And Peter wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1^st Peter chapter 1:

5 Through our faith, the mighty power of God constantly guards us until our full salvation is ready to be revealed in the last time.

6 May the thought of this cause you to jump for joy, even though lately you’ve had to put up with the grief of many trials.

7 But these only reveal the sterling core of your faith, which is far more valuable than gold that perishes, for even gold is refined by fire. Your authentic faith will result in even more praise, glory, and honor when Jesus the Anointed One is revealed.

And Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Romans chapter 5:

3 But that’s not all! Even in times of trouble we have a joyful confidence, knowing that our pressures will develop in us patient endurance.

4 And patient endurance will refine our character, and proven character leads us back to hope.

5 And this hope is not a disappointing fantasy, because we can now experience the endless Love of God cascading into our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who lives in us!

We will be tested by trials and sufferings for Christ.  Let us patiently endure those tests so that our character will be fully refined as precious gold.

Walking in obedience and submission is the path to authority and power!

The world’s path to authority and power is through self-promotion.  This is contrary to the path we are to take.  Jesus is to be our Example.

Jesus prayed in John chapter 17:

1 This is what Jesus prayed as He looked up into Heaven, “Father, the time has come. Unveil the glorious splendor of Your Son so that I will magnify Your glory!

2 You have already given Me authority over all people so that I may give the gift of Eternal Life to all those that you have given to Me.

3 Eternal Life means to know and experience You as the only True God, and to know and experience Jesus Christ, as the Son Whom You have sent.

4 I have glorified You on the earth by faithfully doing everything You’ve told Me to do.

Jesus fully submitted to Our Heavenly Father without exception!

5 So My Father, restore Me back to the glory that We shared together when We were Face-to-Face before the universe was created.”

Jesus explicitly gave up His position in Heaven so that we could experience Eternal Life and be seated with Him in Heavenly places.  What an expression of Agape Love!  He knew it was necessary for us to know Him by His ministry on the earth as an innocent Man subject to like passions but without sin. 

6 “Father, I have manifested Who You really are and I have revealed You to the men and women that You gave to Me. They were Yours, and You gave them to Me, and they have fastened Your Word firmly to their hearts.

As we read of His Words and corresponding actions, we are able to understand FATHER’S True ways.

7 And now at last they know that everything I have is a gift from You,

8 And the very Words You gave to Me to speak I have passed on to them. They have received Your Words and carry them in their hearts. They are convinced that I have come from Your Presence, and they have fully believed that You sent Me to represent You.

You and I have been given the gift of salvation; a gift is not given because our works.

Paul expressed this Truth as he wrote by The Holy Spirit in Romans chapter 11:

5 And that is but one example of what God is doing in this age of fulfillment, for God’s grace empowers His chosen remnant.

6 And since it is by God’s grace, it can’t be a matter of their good works; otherwise, it wouldn’t be a gift of grace, but earned by human effort.

7 So then, Israel failed to achieve what it had strived for, but the Divinely chosen remnant receives it by grace, while the rest were hardened and unable to receive the Truth.

We can’t earn our way to Heaven; we must receive and accept the gift of salvation because of GOD’S grace.

Also in Romans chapter 3:

21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,

22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

25 Whom God set forth as a propitiation by His Blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,

26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the Justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

27 Where, then, is there room for boasting? Do our works bring God’s acceptance? Not at all! It was not our works of keeping the law but our faith in His finished work that makes us right with God.

Propitiation means that through Jesus’ sacrifice, the problem of sin and judgment was dealt with so people could be forgiven and restored to God.  By His willingness to serve all, FATHER glorified Him in the end.  Let us also be willing servants to all.  As we do, we will walk in both authority and power with Jesus as our Example.