Posts in Lifestyle

We all have plans, don’t we? Plans for our careers, relationships, finances, and dreams we hold close. I’m no different. I spend a lot of time thinking, strategizing, and mapping out my life. I set goals, draft timelines, and invest energy into creating the future I imagine for myself and my family. But life, as it often reminds me, doesn’t always unfold according to my carefully laid plans.

I came across a verse recently that speaks to this truth in a simple yet powerful way: “You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail” (Proverbs 19:21). It’s one of those verses that can stop you in your tracks, forcing you to pause and think about what it means for all the aspirations we work so hard to achieve. This verse doesn’t discourage us from planning. It acknowledges the inevitability that our best-laid plans sometimes get rerouted by something greater, something beyond our understanding.

Looking back, I can see moments when things didn’t go as planned—sometimes painfully so. Projects didn’t pan out, relationships shifted, and the road curved unexpectedly. In those moments, I felt frustration, sometimes even doubt. But hindsight is a wise teacher. With time, I began to see how those disruptions actually worked in my favor. Where I’d initially seen only dead ends, a path opened that I hadn’t anticipated, leading to something better or helping me grow in ways I never would have otherwise.

This verse, for me, is a call to stay grounded and flexible. It encourages me to hold onto my goals lightly, remembering that they don’t have to be rigid. God’s purpose for us can be different from what we envision, but it’s ultimately a purpose that has our best interests at heart, even when we can’t see it. While I may be driven to shape my life in a particular way, I’m learning to trust that there’s a wisdom beyond mine at work, steering me toward what I truly need rather than what I merely want.

So now, when I feel uncertainty creeping in or when things don’t go the way I’d hoped, I come back to Proverbs 19:21. It’s a reminder to keep planning and striving but to leave room for something bigger. It’s an invitation to embrace both the ambition to move forward and the faith to let go, trusting that even if things don’t turn out exactly as I planned, they’re turning out exactly as they’re meant to.

In the end, my plans might evolve, shift, or even fall away, but I trust that God’s purpose for my life remains constant. And there’s a peace in knowing that the path I’m on, though unpredictable, is leading somewhere good, somewhere purposeful. That’s where my faith lives, and that’s what keeps me grounded through every twist and turn.

Let me know if this resonates with you or if you’d like any adjustments.

“Are you all in?”

It’s a question I find myself asking often, in everything I do. Whether it’s my career, my family, my health, or my role as a husband and father, there’s always this internal check—am I really giving it my all?

Being “all in” isn’t just about effort; it’s a mindset. It’s a commitment to show up fully, to push beyond what’s comfortable, and to engage with purpose. In my life, I’ve found that it’s not enough to just be present. You have to be engaged, invested, and focused. You have to be all in.

When it comes to family, for example, I remind myself that being there isn’t just about physical presence. Am I truly listening? Am I connecting with my kids, my partner, in a way that lets them know they are my priority? Time is finite, and while I may not always have control over my schedule, I have control over how I show up. Am I all in when I’m with them? I hope so.

In my career, the stakes are high. Responsibilities, challenges, and the constant need to stay ahead can be overwhelming. It’s tempting to just go through the motions some days. But I know that if I’m going to make a real impact, I need to commit. I need to remind myself that this isn’t just a job—it’s a platform. Am I giving my best, pushing boundaries, solving problems with real intent? Am I all in?

Health is another pillar. I’ve learned that taking care of myself isn’t just for me; it’s for the people who count on me. It’s easy to brush aside workouts, to cut corners on eating well, or to stay up late working instead of getting enough sleep. But the truth is, if I’m not healthy—mentally and physically—I can’t be there for the people who need me most. Am I all in on taking care of myself so I can take care of them?

As a husband and father, the idea of being “all in” is something I hold close. These are the roles that matter most. I’m not perfect, and I make mistakes, but I try to keep the perspective that being present, being patient, being understanding is what makes the difference. Am I making the choices that reflect my priorities? Am I all in when it matters most?

Being “all in” doesn’t mean perfection. It doesn’t mean never failing. It means that in the moments that count—in the areas that define us—we choose to show up fully. We choose to push harder, to care deeper, to engage more intentionally. It’s a question worth asking, and one I’ll continue to ask myself every day.

Am I all in?