When Nothing Goes According to Plan

Four years ago, when we touched down in Nigeria and I stepped out onto the tarmac at the small local airport in Jos, the reality of our move hit me hard. Instead of the sprawling suburbs of Randolph, New Jersey, with their neat lawns and orderly streets, I was staring out at endless farmland, a scattering of tin-roofed huts, and a sky so wide it seemed to stretch forever. My first thought wasn’t some brave, missionary-inspired line like, “LORD, here I am. Send me and let Your perfect will be done.” 

Nah. My real, gut-level reaction was, “God, what am I doing here?”

I knew what life in Nigeria was like—I’d been here before on short-term trips, and I thought I’d prepared myself. But living here, uprooting my family, and stepping into a place with no expiration date on our stay—that was different. Everything around me, from the earthy smells to the hum of distant motorcycles, to the relentless heat, was a quick reality check: this was my new home for as long as God wanted us here.

Before we arrived, seasoned missionaries warned us that in the mission field, nothing ever goes as planned and we needed to be ready to pivot at a moment’s notice. But here in Nigeria, you could multiply that unpredictability by five, and add to it the instability of a global pandemic. 

From the moment we set foot in Jos, NOTHING WENT ACCORDING TO PLAN!

WELCOME TO JOS: WHERE PLANS GO TO GET REAL

Our arrival wasn’t just challenging; it was a complete unraveling of everything we had planned. Our promised housing was nowhere near ready, forcing us to scramble for temporary accommodations. Meanwhile, our shipping container (which had been sent six months earlier) —packed with all our belongings and the materials we needed for church planting—was to be help up at the port for another additional 6-7 months. The delay left us living out of suitcases, with many essentials we’d counted on out of reach. Then, in a twist that I should have perhaps anticipated due to the pandemic, our entire ministry team in Jos was suddenly called to evacuate Nigeria. The embassy warned that this might be the last flight out due to escalating uncertainties, leaving us with a skeleton crew and a rapidly dwindling sense of stability.

On top of that, rallying people to our church vision proved nearly impossible. The pandemic had disrupted every aspect of daily life, leaving people weary and in survival mode. As I watched our plans fall apart, I sensed God urging us to shift our ministry focus, but I stubbornly held onto my original ministry blueprint. After all, I’d spent the last 18 months casting vision and raising support to launch a church in the city, and I was foolishly determined to execute this plan—with or without God’s help. Clearly, God thought differently.

Just when I thought life couldn’t get any more dramatic, I fell severely ill with an intense gastrointestinal issue that kept me bedridden for weeks. It was as if every step forward we took was met with a force pulling us two steps back, challenging not only my endurance but also my faith in why we’d come in the first place. By February 2021, just months after we arrived, I was at rock bottom—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I found myself in prayer, saying, “God, this wasn’t the plan we agreed on back in America. Easter is around the corner, and we’re supposed to be preparing for the launch of our first church service, but I can barely get out of bed.” 

At that point, I finally concluded that perhaps it was time to let go of my carefully crafted plans and allow God to lead. What happened next wasn’t quite a burning-bush moment where I heard a booming voice from heaven—but I began to listen to what God was impressing on my heart; and it went something like this:

“Segun, getting you to leave the comfort of New Jersey and relocate to Jos was STEP ONE in my plans for you. You obeyed; well done, faithful servant. Now, let me show you STEP TWO.”

WHEN PLAN B BECOMES PLAN A

You see, I wanted the full ministry playbook for my first year in Nigeria, but God seemed more interested in leading me play by play, and our family’s obedience to His next step was what led to the birth of a pastoral care and training ministry in Jos.

In the following weeks, I pivoted from our church-planting strategy to mentoring pastors and ministry leaders through a soul-care discipleship course I had developed, called Timothy Elder Training. We started with a small group of 14 pastors, meeting weekly for twelve weeks. It soon became clear we’d tapped into a significant need because, before long, it felt as if the ministry floodgates had swung open for us.

Different ministry and denominational leaders began approaching me, asking for the course for their pastors and leaders. In northern Nigeria, pastors face unique challenges—not only persecution from extremist groups that has resulted in faith-fatigue, but also a deep sense of feeling stuck. Past emotional wounds, hidden struggles, a lack of direction, stagnation in church growth, and even spiritual strongholds were stunting many leaders emotionally and spiritually. Unlike pastors in the U.S., these leaders had nowhere to turn to resuscitate their hearts for ministry. Many were leading from a place of depletion and unresolved pain, which impacted not only their own well-being and families, but also that of their churches and communities.

Recognizing this overwhelming need, we officially launched, The Gathering Faith Leadership Network, a ministry designed to focus on the pastor’s own inner life, aiming to help them lead from a place of wholeness, clarity, and strength. At the core of what we do is creating a safe, supportive environment where pastors can be real with each other. Every teaching session includes small group discussions and prayer circles that encourage honest conversations about both struggles and victories—something that’s rare to find in Nigerian ministry settings.

 As a result, God has so expanded the footprint of our ministry that earlier this year, we were invited to partner with two of the largest pastoral networks in Southern and Eastern Nigeria, in Lagos and Port Harcourt, where we were given access to provide our soul-care training for over 12,000 pastors. Additionally, last Christmas, and again this December, we hosted a first-of-its-kind Christmas Festival for pastors' kids and their families, bringing together approximately 200 families across different denominations.   

Check out video highlights from our ministry this year:

I share this ministry update as a testament to the journey that began with our obedience to God’s STEP ONE for our lives. As we followed, God revealed STEP TWO, and we’ve continued submitting to His step-by-step guidance ever since.

It brings to mind the story of the prophet Elijah, whose plans likely didn’t unfold as he might have imagined, yet by following God’s step-by-step direction, he found himself right in the center of God’s will. Let’s look together at the beginnings of Elijah’s ministry, starting in 1 Kings 17:1-6, and explore the truth it reveals.

 1 Kings 17:1-6, “Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.”2 Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah: 3 “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. 4 You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.” 5 So he did what the Lord had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. 6 The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.”

If we take this passage and squeeze out its essence, here’s the BIG IDEA we find: SUBMIT TO GOD'S PLAN AS IT UNFOLDS STEP BY STEP, OFTEN IN UNEXPECTED WAYS.

I know, many of us prefer having a full roadmap before we take a step of faith. But God tends to offer just enough light for the next step, like a lamp for our feet rather than a spotlight revealing the whole path. So, let’s dive into three insights into God’s unexpected ways.

INSIGHT 1: GOD PREPARES THE ONE HE CALLS IN OBSCURITY

Look at Elijah’s introduction in 1 Kings 17:1-6. It’s surprisingly abrupt: “Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab…” That’s it. No grand setup, no detailed backstory. He just appears out of nowhere, standing in the royal palace and delivering God’s judgment to one of Israel’s most notorious kings.

All we know is that he’s from Tishbe, which was not a wealthy or influential city. It was more of a rural village, the kind of backwater town with one gas station and one hot dog stand. Not exactly the background you’d expect for one of the most extraordinary prophets of the Old Testament.

The Bible doesn’t bother to give us details on why Elijah’s beginning was so quiet, and that’s okay because here’s the lesson: God’s pattern is to prepare those He uses greatly in obscurity.

I say that because I know we now live in an age of Likes and View Counts where the greatest aim is to get the highest exposure in the shortest amount of time but hear me on this:

The circumstances and events that lead to greatness in a person's life, take place in hidden years when very few people are looking, and no one cares.

For our family, part of our calling to Nigeria was tied to a season of hiddenness. In early 2019, my wife faced a debilitating illness. Despite treatments and stronger medications recommended by doctors here in the states, there was no improvement. At that point, we made the difficult decision for her to return to Nigeria for a season to explore natural remedies, which turned out to be the right decision as we observed her condition begin to improve.

Out of her own journey, her ministry Mays Wholistic Health was born. Using natural therapies and bio-resonance, she and her team now help women, children, and couples with chronic pain, skin issues, and other health challenges. What started with a handful of clients three years ago in our living room has, over the last year, grown to its own wellness center in town where she treats hundreds, including high-ranking government officials.

I share this part of our story to say: SEASONS OF HIDDENNESS ARE NOT A SIGN OF GOD’S DISFAVOR. In fact, these are often the times when He does His deepest work in you. So, embrace those “hidden years” with open arms, knowing that God is shaping you even when no one else is watching.

Now, let’s explore the second insight into God’s unexpected ways...

INSIGHT 2: GOD REVEALS HIS PLANS ONE STEP AT A TIME

Take a look at verse 1 again: “Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, ‘As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.’”

Elijah went from obscurity in Tishbe straight to the royal palace, standing before the king and speaking truth to power. This was a HUGE ministry promotion! It would seem his ministry is about to go national, right?  But right after his anointed message, what do we read? Verse 2 says [very possibly, while he’s just stepping outside the palace gates], “Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah: ‘Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.’” 

Can you imagine Elijah’s reaction? “Wait…what? Hide? That’s not part of the plan!”

Just so you know what’s happening, God was instructing Elijah to leave the very heart of political and cultural power in Israel, where all the action is happening, and sending him 60 miles east to the isolated Kerith Ravine. And when it says “brook,” don’t picture a lush river with shade trees along the banks. The word here is “wadi”—more like a dry creek bed, with water that flows only in the wet season and dries up during droughts. And, if you remember, Elijah had just prophesied a three-year drought!

This place is even more remote and secluded than his hometown of Tishbe. Lest he worry he would be alone; God tells him he’ll have some company: ravens would bring him sandwiches for breakfast and dinner. Talk about taking some down-time! Interestingly, most commentators point out that he would have to stay in this location anywhere from 9 months to a year and a half before being sent to Zarepath! Not exactly the dream ministry he might have envisioned.

Imagine Elijah’s thoughts as he processes this. I’m willing to bet this wasn’t how he pictured his ministry unfolding. Yet, in time, he would go on to have one of the most spectacular ministries in the Old Testament—calling down fire from heaven not once but twice, raising, the dead, even parting the Jordan River. But in the quiet, lonely days at Kerith Ravine, Elijah had no idea what lay ahead because GOD REVEALS HIS PLANS ONE STEP AT A TIME.

Pastor and author Ray Pritchard captures this beautifully. In his book on the life of Elijah, he writes, “God DOES have a roadmap [and perfect plan] for your life, but there’s only one copy of that plan, and it is locked up on the third floor of the administration building in heaven [and only God has the keys]!”

So, the question we should ask ourselves is this: Am I being obedient to what God has already revealed? We all want the full playbook. God is asking, have you followed through the last play I gave you?

TRAGEDY AND AN OPPORTUNITY IN BOKKOS

There’s a community just outside of Jos where we felt a strong call to serve its pastors. Our team prayed, planned, and worked hard to connect, but the timing always seemed wrong. Every attempt to establish contact felt like hitting a wall. So, we decided to wait, trusting God’s timing to reveal the right opportunity.

Then, months later, on Christmas Eve, tragedy struck. An Islamic terrorist group launched a brutal attack on 30 villages, including that very community we’d been trying to reach. In the space of just 48 hours, 160 lives were lost, dozens more were wounded, and 15,000 people were left without homes. The devastation was staggering, yet in the midst of this heartbreak, we felt the LORD’s nudge, instructing us: “There’s your next step.”

Although we aren’t a relief organization, we knew we had to respond. Many churches in the community had been burned down, including one where the pastor’s entire family was tragically killed inside their church. Driven by compassion, we gathered ministry funds, partnered with a few other missionaries and bought a truckload of food and essential supplies for the displaced families. With no expectations, we drove out to the devastated villages and did what we could to bring comfort and relief. The truth is, we didn’t solve the main problem, but God did allow us to establish some ongoing relationships with key community leaders we had previously been unable to.

Then, a few months later, an unexpected door opened. The chairman of the Christian Associations Network in that region, who had heard about our relief efforts, reached out to us. He explained they were organizing a gathering of 250 pastors from 10 municipalities across 4 different denominations—and they wanted us to come and offer our Soul Care Training for these leaders. This was a huge win for us as it had been our goal all along to establish contact with the community in order to serve its spiritual leaders. What began as a call to wait became a powerful opportunity to serve, and to bring encouragement and healing to pastors who desperately needed it.

Here’s a short video recap of those two impactful events.

In light of Elijah’s story, here’s what we’ve learned: OBEDIENCE TO STEP ONE BRINGS CLARITY TO STEP TWO. That’s why I urge us to embrace God’s plan as it unfolds, step by step, often in ways we never expected.

Now, the third insight into God’s ways and workings is this…

INSIGHT 3: GOD CONCEALS HIS FULL PLAN TO ACHIEVE GREATER PURPOSES

A lingering question in this passage is, why did God suddenly change the course of Elijah’s ministry?

First, it was for Elijah’s protection.

When Elijah prophesied to King Ahab that “…there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word,” (1 Kings 17:1), he effectively became a threat to national security.  

At that moment, drought hadn’t yet set in—cisterns were still full, and there was food in storage. But Elijah’s prophecy meant Israel would soon face severe famine, with no one to blame but him. He had become Israel’s most wanted man, so God, in His mercy, saw it best to hide Elijah, removing him from the center of power and into the wilderness. It was as if God were saying, Hey man, we need to get you out of here right now as far away as possible from this administration.”

Secondly, God concealed Elijah for a greater purpose—to expose Baal as a powerless, false god.

To understand the impact, we need to look at who Baal was to the Israelites. Baal, the Canaanite storm god, was believed to control the rain, the harvest, and fertility. Worshipping Baal was an attempt to secure prosperity, and during times of hardship, the people turned to him with sacrifices, even self-inflicted wounds, to win his favor. The priests and prophets of Baal were convinced he alone sent rain and blessed crops, making him seem essential to survival.

But when God withheld rain for three long years, Baal’s true impotence was revealed. The skies remained closed, and Israel was parched, yet Baal’s worshipers were powerless to bring a single drop. God’s purpose behind the drought was clear: He was showing Israel and its neighbors that their so-called ‘god’ was no god at all. Then came the showdown on Mount Carmel in 1 Kings 18. In one of the most dramatic confrontations in Scripture, Elijah challenges the prophets of Baal to a contest. They prepare a sacrifice and call upon Baal to send fire from heaven, and from morning until noon, they cry out, dance, and even cut themselves, desperate for a response. But silence is their only answer. Baal doesn’t send fire—he can’t.

Then Elijah steps forward, rebuilding the altar of the Lord, soaking the sacrifice in water, and praying a simple, powerful prayer. Instantly, fire from heaven consumes the offering, the altar, and even the surrounding water. God had proven beyond a doubt that He alone held the power over heaven and earth. Baal was nothing but an empty promise.

And when the people fell on their faces, declaring, “The Lord—He is God! The Lord—He is God!” (1 Kings 18:39), Elijah knew it was time to declare the drought’s end. He tells Ahab, “Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain” (1 Kings 18:41). Soon, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, and a downpour finally came. God sent the rain only when Elijah said it would, proving that the God of Heaven and Earth—not Baal—controlled nature, rain, and all creation.

WHEN STILLNESS ISN’T SILENCE

This story reminds us that God’s delays and concealed purposes often serve greater ends than we can see. There are moments in life when God’s silence or redirection isn’t abandonment; rather, it’s His way of setting the stage for something profound. And just because we don’t see the battle doesn’t mean God isn’t fighting it on our behalf. One author once pointed out that, “Even if God were to attempt to explain His workings in our lives, it would be tantamount to trying to pour the entire Atlantic Ocean is a little teacup!”

So, remember this: STILLNESS IN YOUR LIFE DOESN'T MEAN GOD IS INACTIVE. There are spiritual battles being fought—and won om your behalf—that you may never see, because the battle belongs to the Lord. In those moments, He simply calls us to be obedient, to “be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).

So, what’s your next step of obedience? What seemingly simple instruction through the Holy Spirit have you been putting off? Your obedience to those simple first steps could very well be a floodgate that brings God’s plans into full view into your life. So, I ask again, what do you need to be obedient to next?

Listen, sometimes God’s unexpected ways calls you to pack your family and move across the Atlantic Ocean to serve Him in Nigeria, then other times, God’s unexpected ways calls you to stay put right where you are and be obedient to the next step He’s placed in front of you.

May the LORD grant us willing obedient hearts!

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