What If I’m Wrong?

I don't like being wrong. I hate it so much that I often pretend I'm never wrong so that I can avoid it altogether. Pair that with a strong gift of discernment, enneagram 8 personality and high self-confidence and you've got a problem—well, I've got a problem.

I end most of my mini-arguments with "look it up" because I'm so confident that I'm correct that I know the internet will confirm. When confronted with others' "facts," I may look like I'm thinking through it, but I'm actually reminding myself that I have the real info, but I don't want to be disrespectful. It takes a whole lot of persuasion and proof to get me to reconsider my position.

We all like to think that we're right most of the time if not all the time. We're constantly operating out of our own "rightness."

But what if you're wrong?

This question has been bothering me lately. It slipped into my mind the other day when I was trying to think myself into a plan. Do you do that too? If I just sit and think through each step and scenario, I'll come up with the exact right plan—because I'm always right, you get it.

Some of the turning points in my life came after I asked myself: What if I'm wrong?

Things I've been wrong about:

dancing

black coffee

Lululemon

recycling

TikTok

chiropractors

skinny jeans

Most of these started out as "I'd never"s. For example, I'll never shop at Lululemon because it's overpriced and overhyped. Fast forward 10 years and I've bought at least 30 pieces all of which I still own or I've donated in good condition—that stuff lasts. How about when I told people for years that I don't dance? I love to dance! I just had no idea because I was scared to try and put myself out there. Now, I love looking silly on the dance floor. Never say never.

There are more serious ones, of course. I've been wrong about political parties, and that's all I'm going to say about that :) Add to the list: divorce, mental health, racism, and most importantly, I've been wrong about people. But it's not really the big stuff that I'm talking about today.

I'm not talking about the black and white, absolute truth, scientific facts, right and wrong. I want to talk about the gray areas, hopes and dreams, instincts and vibes, the optional stuff—but it's often the stuff we act like is life or death.

There are things in our lives that we hold on to as if they were hand-delivered by God Himself, and I'm wondering if you're willing to ask yourself: What if I'm wrong?

You've always lived in the same city, and you have often said you'd never move.

You had you heart set on a certain school, but you don't have the grades to get in.

You've worked in the same industry without ever reevaluating your purpose and passions.

You've always wanted your kids to follow in your footsteps, but it's looking like they are blazing their own trail.

You've sat in the same seat at a church where you've grown comfortable.

You've mapped out your dream wedding within your dream timeline, but you're not in a romantic relationship yet.

You had a 5-year- plan, but it's year 7.

You've said you'd never go on another mission trip.

Never get remarried.

Never go back to school.

Never quit your job.

Never change a diaper.

Never have more kids.

Never foster. Never adopt.

You've said small groups aren't for you.

Megachurches aren't for you.

Home churches aren't for you.

Staying home isn't for you.

Going back to work isn't for you.

Retiring isn't for you.

But, what if you're wrong?

What if the one thing you've always held on to isn't it?

What if your plan isn't the plan?

I think we can want our lives to play out a certain way so we assume that's what God wants too. None of these things are right or wrong on their own, but we have assigned "right" or "wrong" to it based on our own desires. We want what we want. And we've got Bible to back it up.

"Delight yourself in the Lord,

and he will give you the desires of your heart."

Psalm 37:4 ESV

Now this is a verse we like. I want the desires of my heart! I plan for them, and all I have to do is delight in the Lord? Check. I love Jesus, and therefore, He will give me my hopes and dreams. But keep reading...

"Commit your way to the Lord;

trust in him, and he will act."

Psalm 37:5 ESV

Wait a minute. He will give me what my heart wants, but I have to trust the way in which it happens to Him? That's not what we agreed on. But these verses shed light on my dilemma.

When I find my joy, my filling, my hope in Jesus, He gives me what I truly want. That doesn't mean He gives it to me exactly how I want it, when I want it and with all the specifics I had planned around it. If I walk in His ways, commit to the steps He provides, and trust in Him, He works it all out. In the end, He supplies what I actually want even if I don't know it along the way.

Commit your way to the Lord, not your plans. You can't do both. To commit fully to whatever it is God has for you means you can't be secretly committed to your plans for your life. We don't commit to Jesus so that He will give us what we want. We commit to Jesus because we know He knows what's better.

Committing your way to the Lord means letting go of your need to be right.

So, what if I'm wrong?

For me this question came because I'd been chasing after the specifics of a calling year after year without an openness to a new version. I've always felt like God's call on my life was going to play out in a few specific ways. I've allowed for some variance over the years while still holding Him to the final end goal "someday." And while I still feel strongly about listening to and fighting for God's call on your life, I realized I may be wrong about some of the details. So I started asking the question.

Asking this question feels like pulling on a thread that could unravel my whole life. Or could unravel everything I thought was true. And that's scary. But, do I trust God for the plan? Isn't He the one who called me anyway?

As I look back on my life and what He's already done, not a single bit of it went according to plan. But I wouldn't change any of it either. God's priority for my life is that I know Him and make Him known. If He has to wreck my plans over and over again for that to happen, then I'm in.

What have you been wrong about?

What might you be wrong about now?