As a fisherman on Lake Michigan (one of the world’s largest freshwater lakes), I’ve had to change my plans on many occasions. Stormy weather or high waves have forced me to resort to a Plan B: either canceling the trip or limiting my fishing to the safer waters of a harbor or smaller inland lake. It’s not the end of the world, but it’s not ideal.

In his letter to the Christians in Rome, Paul mentioned that he had planned many times to visit them (Romans 1:13). For many years, Plan A was to travel to Rome and remind the Christians who lived there of all that’s involved in the good news of Jesus. Again and again, however, other circumstances and ministry objectives prevented him from making the trip (Romans 15:22). So Paul eventually resorted to Plan B—he wrote a letter and shared what he initially wanted to present in person. That letter is what we know today as the New Testament book of Romans.

When Paul finally sat down to write his letter, he may have been tempted to think he was settling for Plan B. He likely wasn’t aware that he was about to pen a letter that would change the world.

One of the more fascinating subplots surrounding the book of Romans is that if Paul had gone with Plan A, we would not have one of the richest books in the New Testament.

Sometimes our plans fall through and we have to go with a Plan B. And, yes, it can be inconvenient and frustrating at times. But try to keep in mind that God knows the bigger picture. Like Paul and the book of Romans, what may seem like Plan B to us has really been God’s Plan A.

NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: James 1:2-27