"Pencil Me In"

Let’s talk about our calendars for a second—you know, those things that are somehow both full and falling apart at the same time? We live in a world of color-coded planners, phone reminders, and sticky notes on the fridge. We “pencil in” appointments, coffee dates, and soccer practice—but how often do we pencil God in?

Proverbs 16:9 says, “We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.” And isn’t that the truth? We might have everything neatly scheduled, but sometimes God flips our plans upside down to show us something better.

Today we’re talking about what it looks like to hold our schedules—and our lives—with open hands. Because life isn’t always about penciling everything in perfectly—it’s about leaving enough room for God to move in the margins.

We plan vacations, we plan gatherings, we set aside time for this and for that. For the most part, all of those go smoothly, and we enjoy every moment.

But sometimes we plan moves, job changes, and such, and those can either be smooth, or they can be rough.

When they are smooth, we don’t question it at all, but when they are rough, we can question whether it is right or not.

When we question, we start to feel so many things, and seeking the Lord can be last on that list of ours. But what if this change was, in fact, God-ordained, but it still went rough? We can look at it either as a question or as a lesson—what does God have for me to learn from this?

I don’t think there is a problem with questioning; I think it all depends on the questions you are asking and the answers you are seeking.

Seek the Lord and understand the whys and why-nots from Him directly. This will help you on your journey.

The simplest of things can change our entire plan. Let’s say you planned to run all your errands, but when you went out to your car, you realized you had a dead battery, and there was no way you could get it changed until a later time. Well, now your day looks a lot different.

You could be frustrated by it, OR you could just go with the flow, and maybe as your day goes along, you realize that you may have actually needed a day at home.

This is a perfect example of how we make our plans, but God determines our steps. He knew what you needed, so He made a way.

So, when things don’t go as planned, let’s try to see it as a way that God is working for our good.

A lady I used to work with always has her calendar on her. She pulls it out, and it is somewhat full, but she has sticky notes all in it for reminders and things she needs to set aside time for.

That’s what I feel like my brain looks like. There’s a calendar, but there are tabs and sticky notes everywhere because I need reminders and lists. My calendar does not look like that, though, so basically, my busyness is more notes in my mind than on paper—which is why I’m sure I forget things.

But this happens, right? We know we don’t have a lot going on, but we just can’t slow down our thoughts enough to relax.

Let’s be honest, sometimes our lives look like a game of calendar Tetris. We squeeze in every meeting, event, and errand until there’s no breathing room left. But what if God’s best work happens between the lines?

When we “pencil Him in,” it’s not just about scheduling time to pray—it’s about inviting Him into everything we do. Whether you’re folding laundry, driving to work, or waiting in line for coffee, God’s there. Sometimes He just wants us to slow down long enough to notice.

Maybe today’s more than just getting through the to-do list. Maybe it’s about trusting that even if your plans change, His never do.

Are your days lined out where every minute is accounted for?

What happens when you have to adjust—do you feel like you’ll never make it through, or did you happen to even plan some time for adjustments?

I’ve known people like this—every minute is taken into consideration so they can maximize their time and get everything on their list done. It is hectic, but I say if that works for you, then that is great… But it does make me wonder where you put God on that list.

We all have our own set of priorities and things we just have to get done, but where is God on that list? Are you fitting Him in, or are you setting aside deliberate time?

Think about that today, and if need be, make some adjustments so that you can slow down and spend quality time with the Lord.

Have you ever had a day where nothing was planned, yet it ended up being a day where you felt like you did a lot—even if there was a lot of nothing? I know I have.

Those days to me are almost more exhausting than my actual busy days, and I think that is because I’ve kept my mind busy or distracted. I didn’t actually do anything; I occupied myself the entire time.

With the devices that we always have in our hands, the ability to escape is big, and though there is nothing wrong with that, what is it that we are escaping from?

Don’t let the distractions and the “busyness” that you create keep you from taking time to read your Bible, spending time with family, or keeping space available to just enjoy the great outdoors.

You ever notice how a pencil has an eraser for a reason? Mistakes happen. Plans change. Life gets messy. And that’s okay—God works through all of it.

Some of our best stories come from plans that didn’t go… well, according to plan. Maybe a delay brought a blessing, or a closed door led to something even better. God’s not thrown off by reschedules—He’s the one holding the whole calendar.

So, when things don’t go as expected today, remember, maybe God’s just rearranging things to make space for His perfect timing.

Time is on our side—we’ve heard this phrase, and then in the same breath, we also say that time is fleeting, and we just don’t know where it went.

Isn’t that so odd? I know some days and even weeks seem to creep along, and some go so fast, so how do we keep up with it all?

Well, we have calendars and lists, and we plan for all of the things needed to get done.

We adjust our schedules, and we make time for this and for that.

Life is a series of events, big and small, but let’s always make sure that we are including God and the things that He has for us as well.

God does determine our steps, and He does guide us along the path that He has set before us. We can waver, and we can misstep, and yet God is always there to get us back to where we need to be.

If you feel like your schedule is never-ending, then I suggest taking some time and sitting with the Lord. Let Him help you to clear your mind, understand your path, and get yourself realigned with what He has laid out.

Friend, don’t let your schedule rule you—let God be the one to set your schedule.

Don’t pencil Him in; let Him guide your pencil.

Remember what Proverbs 16:9 tells us—“We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.”

It’s good to plan, to dream, and to stay organized—but it’s even better to leave room for God’s handwriting on our calendars. When we “pencil Him in,” we’re saying, “Lord, I trust You with my time, my direction, and my day.”

So, whether your schedule is packed or peaceful, know this: God’s already penciled you into His plan.

When God’s in the calendar, every moment counts—even the ones we didn’t plan.