Summer is coming, and chances are you’re making plans for the hottest season of the year. Vacations, pool time, backyard barbecues, carnivals, fairs, and festivals are all part of what makes an epic summer. This is also the time to trust God even more with the plans you make for your family this summer.
Seeking God First Before Making Summer Plans
Summer is a season of rest, a gift from God, and we should plan fun things to do. However, problems can arise when we don’t consult God first through prayer, plan activities without discernment, or assume that any door that opens is good.
We may make plans to do a, b, and c, but God would rather have us do x, y, and z. For example, you may plan a vacation, spend days at the pool, and get together with friends. Instead, God may call you to volunteer somewhere, spend more time in your Bible and in prayer, and start making plans for the business he’s been calling you to start. Therefore, it’s important to seek God first before making plans.
Inviting God Into Your Family Vacation Decisions
When we think about vacations, we think about the places we go, the photos we take, and the memories we make. However, for the Christian family, vacation is a way to grow closer to God together, make wise decisions, and create memories that strengthen both family bonds and faith.
When we invite God into our family vacation decisions, it’s more than just asking for a flight during the day or afternoon, so I don’t have to get everyone up for a red-eye. It means approaching planning with humility, gratitude, and trust, asking the Lord for his guidance on where to go, how to shape and manage priorities, and how to help your family grow closer to Him along the way.
Why Include God in Vacation Planning?
God is interested in every part of our lives and wants to be involved in all of it.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” (Proverbs 3:5-6, NLT)
When we invite God into our travel plans, we acknowledge:
● He knows what your family genuinely needs.
● He can protect you from bad choices, unnecessary stress, and wasted resources.
● He can use time away to refresh the hearts and souls of everyone in your family.
Finding Peace When Plans Change Unexpectedly
There is nothing worse than making plans, especially vacation plans, only to have them change unexpectedly. No matter how much we try to plan and prepare, things happen. It’s in these moments when it’s hard to find peace because we don’t know what to do or what will happen next. Finding peace in these moments doesn’t mean we don’t acknowledge our feelings; it means staying calm as we do.
It’s easy for emotions to all rise at once, like frustration, disappointment, anxiety, anger, and grief. In these moments, we need to pause, take a deep breath, name what happened, acknowledge our emotions, and avoid immediate conclusions. Once you’ve done these things, it’s easier to take action on what needs to happen next.
This is a great time to remember some verses to help ease your frustration and anxiety.
“Do not worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Phillipians 4:6-7, NLT)
“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” (1 Peter 5:7, NLT)
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” (1 Timothy 7, NLT)
Balancing Rest, Work, and Spiritual Growth This Summer
It can be hard to balance rest, work, and spiritual growth during the summer. The slower rhythm of summer beckons us to rest and recharge; still, our daily responsibilities don’t go away because the season is here. Not to mention, we want to continue to grow spiritually as well. Sometimes it feels like a tug-of-war between rest, work, and growing our relationships with God.
Finding balance among these three things isn’t about perfect scheduling or flawless execution. It’s about making intentional decisions that allow us to live in peace, purpose, and presence. Instead of letting your summer go by in a blur, be intentional about what you do and how you do things.
A balanced summer allows for;
● Physical rest and recreation.
● Focused and productive work.
● Spiritual practices that nourish the heart and mind, whether that’s reading your Bible more often, volunteering somewhere, or reading a devotion or other book by a favorite Christian author.
● Time with family, friends, and community.
● More time with God in prayer.
● Quiet reflection and renewal.
Trusting God with Travel Safety and Protection
Travel can come with its own set of questions. Will I be safe? Will God protect my family and me? What if something goes wrong? This isn’t being a worrywart; this is today’s reality. We hear about bad things happening related to travel all the time. Car accidents, train wrecks, plane crashes, etc. It’s normal to be a little anxious about travel these days.
This is when we need to trust God even more. Trusting him doesn’t mean we pretend that danger doesn’t exist, acting recklessly, or ignoring advice. It means placing our plans, fears, and outcomes in His hands while still maintaining steps to travel responsibly. Before taking a road trip, check the oil and tire pressure. Making sure we have everything we need before flying. Being mindful of signs, rules, and other important instructions as we travel.
When we travel, it reminds us of how little control we have over our lives and how much we need God, not just in our everyday lives, but when we do out-of-the-ordinary things as well. Trusting him for our travel safety is an act of worship and reminds us He is with us wherever we go.
Letting Go of Control and Embracing God’s Timing
One of the hardest things in life is letting go of control, isn’t it? In the fast-paced world we live in, we’re used to doing and getting things on our terms. However, if you’re like me, the more I try to do things my way, the less it works out. I think we all do this from time to time and get ahead of God when we should let him lead us.
Why Do We Struggle to Let Go?
We struggle to let go because having control feels safe. When things are unpredictable, control gives the illusion of safety. It’s as if we manage every detail; we can avoid pain, frustration, etc. Or so we think. Instead, life becomes exhausting.
So often we long for things like a relationship to progress, a job or promotion to open up, healing, or our prayers to be answered quickly. When this doesn’t happen in the time we think it should, we get frustrated. Sometimes we wonder where God is or what his plans are for our lives. I’ve been there.
We remember that God’s timing isn’t our timing and that His ways are not our ways. Another thing to keep in mind is that God is never early and never late; he’s always on time. It can be extremely hard, but letting go and letting God is the best thing for all of us.
Praying for Wisdom in Summer Opportunities
Summer can bring all kinds of opportunities to do all sorts of things. Volunteer opportunities, mission trips, summer jobs, road trips, making new friends, getting together with old friends, and many other activities. In deciding to say yes or no to these things, prayer is essential.
Praying for wisdom with summer activities isn’t just about asking God for direction. It’s about asking him how best to steward our time, resources, and energy. Every opportunity is a way to grow in discernment of His voice. When we have wisdom, we recognize what is good, what’s best, and what’s distracting. This helps us align ourselves with God’s plan rather than our preferences.
Keeping Your Faith Strong During Busy Summer Schedules
Even though summer is a season of rest, it can also be a busy one. During the busyness, it's difficult to keep your faith strong and focused. Here are some tips to help.
● Start with a morning anchor, like a prayer of gratitude or a brief Bible reading. Anything that gets you in the presence of God for just a few minutes.
● Carry faith into the middle of your day by listening to worship music while driving the kids to camp or to the pool.
● Protect your time for worship and community by watching a church service online, meeting with a friend for prayer or encouragement, and finding a nearby church when traveling.
● Be realistic about your spiritual goals and choose ones that are easy to maintain.
● Embrace summer activities as chances to practice faith, such as showing kindness, patience, thankfulness, and helpfulness.
● Guard your heart from distraction by saying no to what drains you and leaving time in your schedule to rest.
● Make room for rest.
● Remember, God is with you in every season.
Seeing God’s Hand in Both Open Doors and Closed Doors
It’s hard to see God’s hand in both open-and-closed doors when it’s something we really want. We have all gone through seasons when we really want a job, a relationship, or a break during a hard season. It’s incredibly frustrating when these things don’t happen. However, we remember God sees everything and knows what’s best for us. We have to learn to trust him and move on, regardless of whether it’s a job, a relationship, or a glitch in our summer plans.
Ending the Summer with Gratitude and Deeper Trust
Reflection is the best way to end a season before moving on to the next. At the end of this summer, look back and see all that God has done. Sometimes it’s hard to see during hard seasons, but if we look closely, we can. The flight that got rescheduled. Rain that didn’t happen on the day of your three-year-old’s birthday pool party. The car repair before a road trip cost way less than you thought it would. These are the signs of God at work. Let us thank him for what he’s done and what he will do in the next season.
Releasing control and trusting God is difficult, but when we do, we can be confident that, whether good or bad, an epic summer awaits us as we trust Him and His timing.
Photo credit: Unsplash/Toby John Varhaugvik
