Life often unfolds in ways that defy our carefully laid plans and expectations. We map out our paths with dreams and hopes. We believe that if we follow the steps, life will reward us with a sense of fulfillment. We also hope for order. Yet, there are moments when we stand midst the rubble of our perceived certainties. We whisper to ourselves, “This is not the way it’s supposed to be.”
This phrase is a quiet lament, a recognition that something has gone astray. It resonates with the deep human longing for harmony, justice, and purpose. It acknowledges the rupture between the ideal and the real. We often face this chasm in relationships, ambitions, or the world’s complexities.
But this moment of dissonance holds something more than just despair? These moments of “not supposed to be” give us the chance to redefine. We can also rebuild and re-imagine. When the plan we trusted falters, we are invited to look deeper into ourselves. We start to question what truly matters. We find resilience in the face of change.
Reflection often reveals that much of life’s beauty emerges from the unexpected. A flower growing through the cracks of a broken sidewalk. A detour leading to an unforeseen destination. A failure evolving into a lesson that shapes who we are. The stories we cherish most are those of triumph, courage, and redemption. They are often born from situations that were “not the way it was supposed to be.”
To live authentically is to embrace the unpredictability of life. It means holding space for both the joy and the sorrow. We also make room for the clarity and the confusion. It is recognizing that we not have control over the paths we traverse. Nonetheless, we do have the power to choose how we walk them. We can mourn what is lost, but we can also celebrate what becomes possible in its place.
So, the next time life doesn’t go as planned, we can take a moment to pause and think. Instead of resisting the unexpected, we greet it with curiosity and courage. We often find the most profound truths about who we are in the detours and disruptions. These moments also reveal insights about the world around us.
Life rarely unfolds the way we imagined. What matters is that we find a way to live fully. This is essential even when everything seems out of place. After all, it’s in those moments that don’t go as planned. It is in those instances that we often discover the way ahead.
Minister A Francine Green
December 2025
afrancinegreen.com 