Where I See a Failure, God Sees a Plan

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Posted by: Amanda Bridle, Graphic Designer and Brand Manager | Monday, May 11th, 2026 ( 8:27am)

We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.—Proverbs 16:9 

I relish planning. Where my classmates scoffed at the idea of even using a planner, I was the nerdy middle schooler who couldn’t wait to purchase her own so I could control what it looked like. In college I used a planner and multiple to-do lists designated by category. Each individual class and my job as a resident advisor had their own lists.  

Not much has changed now that I’m an adult. Every year on January first I take out a fresh wall calendar and write in birthdays, anniversaries, and those pesky dentist appointments scheduled six months in advance. And these days with three active teens, we also employ multiple Google calendars to keep everyone on track. 

So, when I started my own business (God’s idea, by the way!), naturally I enrolled in a six-week class to learn how to become a successful entrepreneur. We were encouraged to envision what we wanted our businesses to look like in five or ten years and then create goals that would work toward that vision. In theory, this should work wonders. You keep your eyes on the prize and take active steps to make your dream a reality. 

So, I got to work. My business began as an Etsy shop with art downloads, eventually moving into art markets where I could meet new customers in-person. I built a company, created social media accounts with regular content, and built email marketing campaigns. I invested in art supplies, packaging materials, merchandise displays, a credit card reader… the expenses added up quickly! And I took a financial risk to advertise, expecting orders to result. 

I wish I could say that my business outgrew my basement, leading to a team of staff, a cute Hallmark-movie storefront, cards in Target, and having Oprah add them to her favorite things. But the reality is, the fruits of my efforts buried me in inventory that far exceeded the sales I anticipated.  

I limped along for another year or so before finally admitting that I couldn’t keep putting our personal savings and my energy into a business that wasn’t sustaining itself. For someone who prides herself on being a careful planner, this was devastating. How could I do everything “right” and still end up failing? And why did God even have me start this business if it wasn’t going to succeed? 

To be honest, a year after closing the business, I am still struggling with this. You might even say I am a little bit grumpy with God! How could my hard work and obedience not be rewarded with success?  

If I swallow my pride, I can admit there was a lot of good in that season of my life. Working for myself offered flexibility that benefitted my young family. My job skills were greatly expanded, which no doubt helped me land my current role as graphic designer for WCSG. And I experienced the joy of community in my classes and in my mentor relationships.   

And while it might not be on store shelves as I had hoped, I imagine that my Scripture art on thousands of greeting cards is still impacting people to this day. God’s word is powerful, and it was my honor to share it through stationery. All my excess unsold inventory was donated to churches, prison ministries, and hospice organizations. Those cards are likely still doing more good than I can imagine.    

At the end of the day, I circle back to who I know God to be. He is good. He is loving. He is all-knowing. I trust Him fully with my life and that makes obeying Him the right choice, even when the results may not be what I hoped for. He may still have plans to use this failed business in a way I cannot yet see. I am choosing to trust in His goodness and His timing in all things—even when the outcome isn’t what I planned.  

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