"I will visit you after passing through Macedonia, for I intend to pass through Macedonia, 6 and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter... 7 For I do not want to see you now just in passing. I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits" (1 Cor. 16:5-7).
As Paul shared his intended travel plans, notice that he hoped to be able to spend some time with the believers in Corinth, if the Lord permitted it. There is no doubt that Paul prayed and sought the will of God in all the plans that he made. And there were (rare) times when God did speak to him directly, as he did on the road to Damascus. But God didn't always speak directly to Paul about every plan that he made. Instead, Paul used the principles found in God's word to make decisions, like travel plans, and then trusted God to go before him. But as Paul set out to fulfill his plans, he was open for God to alter or even close the door to those plans as his sovereign will determined. Paul had good intentions, but his good intentions were not the determining factor for how he went about discerning God's will.
In spite of his good intentions and predetermined plans, Paul continued to pay attention to God. If things didn't work out as planned, Paul was humble enough to accept it and submit to God's ultimate will for his life.
If you were not able to follow through with plans you thought were of the Lord because of circumstances beyond your control, yield to God's will and trust that He knows best.
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