When Life Does Not Look Like the Picture You Imagined
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” - Proverbs 3:5
Most people carry an unspoken picture in their mind of how life was supposed to look. Certain dreams feel so clear that you assume they will unfold exactly the way you imagined. Then real life shows up with twists you never planned for. A path you expected to be smooth becomes uneven. A timeline you thought was certain gets rearranged. When the story does not match the picture, disappointment settles in quietly.
There is a strange pressure in our world to present a perfect, filtered version of life. You scroll through images of smiling families, career wins, and steady progress. Without meaning to, you start comparing your behind-the-scenes to someone else’s highlight reel. The gap between what you see online and what you feel inside can convince you that something is wrong with you. It can make the unexpected parts of your story feel like failures instead of detours.
God never promised that your journey would look like anyone else’s. He did not ask you to follow a script written by culture or by comparison. He asked you to trust Him, even in the chapters you did not see coming. Some of the most meaningful growth happens in moments that feel nothing like the picture you once held. Those moments stretch your faith. They reveal strength you did not know you had. They push you to depend on God in ways comfort never would.
Plans that fall apart can still lead you forward. Dreams that change can still produce purpose. Seasons that surprise you can still end with goodness. The picture you imagined may have been neat and simple, but God’s version often carries more depth, more compassion, and more wisdom than the one you drew for yourself.
If you are standing in a chapter that feels unfamiliar or disappointing, pause and talk to God about it. Ask Him to guide you through the parts of your story that do not make sense yet. Your life is not off track. It is simply unfolding differently than you expected. God is still leading, still working, and still writing something worth trusting.
Most people carry an unspoken picture in their mind of how life was supposed to look. Certain dreams feel so clear that you assume they will unfold exactly the way you imagined. Then real life shows up with twists you never planned for. A path you expected to be smooth becomes uneven. A timeline you thought was certain gets rearranged. When the story does not match the picture, disappointment settles in quietly.
There is a strange pressure in our world to present a perfect, filtered version of life. You scroll through images of smiling families, career wins, and steady progress. Without meaning to, you start comparing your behind-the-scenes to someone else’s highlight reel. The gap between what you see online and what you feel inside can convince you that something is wrong with you. It can make the unexpected parts of your story feel like failures instead of detours.
God never promised that your journey would look like anyone else’s. He did not ask you to follow a script written by culture or by comparison. He asked you to trust Him, even in the chapters you did not see coming. Some of the most meaningful growth happens in moments that feel nothing like the picture you once held. Those moments stretch your faith. They reveal strength you did not know you had. They push you to depend on God in ways comfort never would.
Plans that fall apart can still lead you forward. Dreams that change can still produce purpose. Seasons that surprise you can still end with goodness. The picture you imagined may have been neat and simple, but God’s version often carries more depth, more compassion, and more wisdom than the one you drew for yourself.
If you are standing in a chapter that feels unfamiliar or disappointing, pause and talk to God about it. Ask Him to guide you through the parts of your story that do not make sense yet. Your life is not off track. It is simply unfolding differently than you expected. God is still leading, still working, and still writing something worth trusting.
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3 Comments
Such a timely Word! I thank God that He speaks through your vessel. I needed this so much today! God’s continued blessings on your life Pastor Coates!
This message is truly encouraging. Right now, it seems I can’t find my way. Everything feels heavy. Nothing seems clear. I feel like I am going no where. But I will trust in the Lord.
I love this! This is so true! Life is exactly like this, full of twists and turns but we can definitely win in this life if we trust in God. I must pass this on!