James 4:13-14a “Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.”
Sweet Savior, omniscient one, You and You alone know our future because you are there. You tell us in Proverbs to consider the ant and how hard they work to store up food for their winter, so I don’t think You are telling us never to plan at all. I believe through James, You are saying that we are not to plan in arrogance and pride leaving Your plan for us out of things.
Right now, my husband and I are planning on driving to spend the three day Easter weekend with our son and family. However; we are still awaiting the Nuclear Stress Test results from earlier this week. Depending on what the test shows, we may be going to the hospital for a procedure instead. Only You know, but this is only one weekend.
Humans are such great schemers and planners as You know. Sometimes we think we have our lives all planned out the way we want them to be not giving You a thought. Then when tragedy strikes we blame You, either secretly or openly, for messing up our plans.
These examples I am sure are not in that category, but will give them as an example of how quickly our plans have to change sometimes. I am sure one of my dear co-workers never thought she would get a call that her mom had breast cancer and she would be spending every weekend for months driving to another city to minister to her and her Grandma. Or another who received a call that her husband had been in a serious motorcycle accident and would have to have life changing surgery. Or another who received a call that her son had been killed in an accident.
On the other hand, I don’t think the people in Japan went to work one day expecting an earthquake and Tsunami would occur killing thousands, wounding thousands, leaving thousands homeless, and severely damaging their nuclear power plant that would cause serious life changes. Or that one man’s actions in Egypt one day would spark several revolutions…Lord, the list goes on and on.
Yes, we need to plan some, but we need always to hold them as “tentative” and understand that our will, as humble as they may be, may not be what You know will happen. I have a missionary friend who goes to Romania, Serbia, and Moldova each year to encourage and teach pastors. He is older and has some serious health issues. Each year, about 2-3 weeks before he is supposed to depart, the enemy strikes and he either ends up in the hospital or becomes gravely ill. He knows his time is fleeting, so he always takes a team with him who can carry on if he cannot go or goes to Glory.
You are telling me to make my plans prayerfully making sure, as one can be, that it is Your will. Then hold them with open hands not hands tightly clenched. I believe this is Your Word for me today. Thank You, Lord, for ordering my days. If I trust in You with all my heart and lean not unto my own understanding, You have promised to lead me on straight path. Hallelujah! I do not have to be the one in control!
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