Summer is fast approaching and many of us are probably making plans for the hottest season of the year. Vacations, pool time, backyard barbeques, carnivals, fairs, and festivals are all part of a spectacular summer. This summer is also a time to trust God more with the plans you have for your family.
Seek God First Before Making Summer Plans
Summer is a season of rest, a gift from God, so you should plan some fun things. However, problems can arise if we do not first consult God through prayer, plan our activities without discernment, or assume that every door we open is a good one.
We may plan to do a, b, and c, but God would rather us do x, y, and z. For example, you might 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 the Bible and prayer, and start planning the business He is calling you to start. Therefore, it is important to seek God first before making any plans.
Inviting God into Family Vacation Decisions
When we think about vacations, we think about the places we went, the photos we took, and the memories we made. But for Christian families, the holidays are a way to draw closer to God together, make wise decisions, and create memories that strengthen family bonds and faith.
When you invite God into your family travel decisions, it’s more than just asking for a daytime or afternoon flight. That way you don’t have to wake everyone up with a red eye. It means approaching your plans with humility, gratitude, and trust, seeking His guidance on where to go, how to prioritize and manage, and how to help your family grow closer to Him along the way.
Why include God in your vacation plans?
God is interested in every part of our lives and wants to be involved in it all.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Do not rely on your own understanding. Seek the will of the Lord in all your actions, and he will show you the way to go.” (Proverbs 3:5-6, New Testament)
When we invite God into our travel plans, we recognize that:
● He knows what your family really needs.
●It protects you from wrong choices, unnecessary stress, and wasted resources.
● He can use his time away to refresh the minds and souls of the entire family.
Finding Peace When Plans Change Unexpectedly
There’s nothing worse than having your plans, especially a vacation, changed unexpectedly. No matter how much you try to plan and prepare, something can happen. It’s moments like this that it’s hard to find peace because you don’t know what to do or what will happen next. Finding peace in moments like this doesn’t mean not acknowledging your feelings. It means staying calm, just like the rest of us.
Emotions such as frustration, disappointment, anxiety, anger, and sadness can easily run high all at once. At moments like this, we need to stop, take a deep breath, name what happened, acknowledge our feelings and try not to jump to conclusions. Once you have completed these things, it will be easier to take action on what needs to happen next.
It’s a great time to remember some scriptures to ease frustration and anxiety.
“Don’t worry about anything. Instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience the peace of God, which far exceeds anything we can understand. The peace of God will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7, NIV)
“Cast all your worries and cares on God, for he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7, NIV)
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-control” (1 Timothy 7, NIV).
Balance rest, work, and spiritual growth this summer
Balancing rest, work, and spiritual growth can be difficult during the summer. The slow rhythm of summer invites us to rest and recharge. Still, just because this season has arrived doesn’t mean our daily responsibilities go away. Needless to say, we want to continue to grow spiritually as well. Sometimes it can feel like a tug of war between rest, work, and strengthening your relationship with God.
Finding a balance between these three is not about a perfect schedule or perfect execution. It’s about making intentional decisions that allow us to live in peace, purpose, and presence. Instead of letting summer pass by in a blur, be intentional about what you do and how you do it.
A balanced summer allows:
● Physical rest and recreation.
● Focused and productive work.
● Spiritual practices that nourish the heart and mind. This could be reading the Bible more often, volunteering somewhere, or reading devotionals and other books by your favorite Christian authors.
● Time with family, friends, and community.
● Spend more time with God in prayer.
●Quiet reflection and renewal.
Trust God for travel safety and protection
Travel comes with its own set of questions. Will I be safe? Will God protect my family and me? What if something goes wrong? This is nothing to worry about. This is the reality today. We often hear about bad things happening related to travel. Car accidents, train accidents, plane accidents, etc. It’s normal to feel a little anxious about traveling these days.
This is when we need to trust God even more. Trusting him doesn’t mean pretending the danger doesn’t exist, acting recklessly, or ignoring advice. It means placing our plans, fears, and outcomes in God’s hands while maintaining steps to travel responsibly. Check your oil and tire pressure before heading out for a drive. Make sure you have everything you need before you leave. Pay attention to signs, regulations and other important instructions while traveling.
Traveling reminds me how little control I have over my life and how much I need God not only in my daily life but also in the extraordinary. Trusting God for the safety of our travels is an act of worship and a reminder that God is with us wherever we go.
Let go of control and embrace God’s timing
One of the hardest things in life is letting go of control. In the fast-paced world we live in, we are used to having things done and accomplished our way. But if you’re like me, the more you try to do things your own way, the less you’ll succeed. I think we all do this sometimes and get ahead of God when we should be letting Him lead us.
Why do we have a hard time letting go?
We have a hard time letting go because we feel secure when we are in control. Control gives the illusion of safety when things are unpredictable. It’s as if we control every detail. We can avoid things like pain and frustration, or so we think. On the contrary, life becomes exhausting.
We often long for progress in a relationship, for a job or promotion to open our hearts, for healing, for prayers to be answered immediately, etc. When this doesn’t happen as planned, we get frustrated. Sometimes we wonder where God is and what His plan is for our lives. I’ve been there.
We remember that God’s timing is not our timing, and His ways are not our ways. Another thing to keep in mind is that God is never early or late. He is always on time. It can be very difficult, but it is best for all of us to let go and surrender to God.
Pray for Wisdom on Summer Opportunities
Summer brings all kinds of opportunities to do all kinds of things. There are volunteer opportunities, mission trips, summer jobs, road trips, making new friends, getting together with old friends, and many other activities. Prayer is essential in deciding whether to say yes or no to these things.
Praying for wisdom in summer activities is more than simply asking God for direction. To ask Him how best to manage our time, resources, and energy. Every opportunity is a way to grow in discerning God’s voice. When we have wisdom, we recognize what is good, what is best, and what is distracting. This helps us align with God’s plan rather than our own preferences.
Keeping Your Faith Strong During Your Busy Summer Schedule
Summer is a season of rest, but it’s also a busy season. It’s hard to stay focused on your faith when you’re so busy. Here are some helpful tips.
● Start with a morning anchor, such as a prayer of thanksgiving or a simple Bible reading. Anything that allows you to be in God’s presence for just a few minutes.
● Bring faith into the middle of your day by listening to worship music while driving the kids to camp or the pool.
● Observe times of worship and community by watching church services online, meeting with friends for prayer and encouragement, or finding a church near you while traveling.
● Be realistic about your spiritual goals and choose goals that are easy to maintain.
● Use summer activities as opportunities to practice your faith, such as showing kindness, patience, gratitude, and kindness.
● Protect your mind from distractions by saying no to things that drain you and building time into your schedule for rest.
● Make sure you have space for rest.
●Remember that God is with you in every season.
Seeing God’s Hand in Both Open and Closed Doors
It’s hard to see God’s hand in both open and closed doors when that’s what we really want. We’ve all been through seasons of work, love, or tough times when we really want a vacation. It’s very frustrating when these things don’t happen. But we remember that God sees everything and knows what is best for us. Whether it’s work, relationships, or summer plans gone awry, we have to learn to trust Him and move on.
The end of summer deepens gratitude and trust
The best way to end a season is to reflect before moving on to the next season. At the end of this summer, look back and see all that God has done. It can be difficult to see during harsh seasons, but if you look closely, you can see it. A rescheduled flight. It didn’t rain on the day of my 3rd birthday pool party. Repairing your car before a road trip can be much cheaper than you think. These are signs of God’s work. Let’s be thankful for what he has done so far and what he will do next season.
It’s hard to let go of control and trust God, but if you do, you can be sure that for better or worse, if you trust in Him and His timing, you’ll have a great summer ahead.
Photo credit: Unsplash/Toby John Varhaugvik
Carrie Laurence is a freelance writer and author. Her work has been featured in Crosswalk, iBelieve, Huffington Post, and The Penny Hoarder. She is also the author of three children’s books, three pretty romance books, one romance novel, three poetry collections, and one nonfiction book. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking, baking, reading, and spending time with her husband and cute cat, Cupcake. For more information about Carrie and her writing, please visit www.carrielowrance.com.
