In
my family, one person’s plan was another person’s chance to tweak that plan. Almost
inevitably during a family get-together, one family member would propose an
outing or activity and as soon as it emerged from her/her mouth, someone else would
immediately think of a different way to do that or an easier way to travel to the destination,
etc. (Since I was the “in-law” I just sat back and grinned to myself.)
Actually,
I like to make plans, mapping out a course, in order to feel like I am somewhat
in control of my day or a situation or a project. I’ve read that if we fail to
plan, we plan to fail. In some aspects this is true but when your life’s plan
falls to pieces, what then?
In
the Bible, Jeremiah, an OT prophet, tells his fellow Israelites what God has
revealed to him. A lot of it is pretty unpleasant because Israel, on the whole, had
been disobedient to God, worshiping idols, etc. But in chapter 29, Jeremiah
shares a huge hope that God showed him (and it’s a promise that will continue
for mankind as long as we inhabit Planet Earth).
Jeremiah
29:11 reads, “I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to
prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
What
an amazing promise—and it’s true for everyone who loves God. My fascination with
this promise is the way God’s plan for family members/close
friends /acquaintances, etc. must needs intersect. I’m thinking specifically of
the particular piece of life’s journey my husband and I are living through
right now as we deal with his cancer.
Somehow,
God, in His all-knowing wisdom, is able to work out this perfect plan for each
of His children without making a mistake anywhere along the way. I remember
reading somewhere about how all of our lives are woven together in such a way
that we, in our finite minds can only see the knots and wrong turns and
re-tracings. Yet at life’s end, the “right side” of our lives reveal a
beautiful mosaic—a work of art only God could have handcrafted.
So,
when my plans go awry, I need to remember that God, my Strength and my
Redeemer, knows what is just right for me. All I need to do is trust Him and walk
with Him in the moments of life, not worrying about the hours and the days. After
all, there's no point in trying to out-plan the Perfect Planner.
