29 Nov Best Laid Plans

While taking a power nap one afternoon last week, I turned on the television to drown out the barking dog next door.  As I was waking up, I heard the word “God” mentioned in the mindless fluff that was playing and it caught my attention. 

The scene being played out was one of a woman sitting on a therapist’s couch spilling her guts about how terrible her life is.  The therapist asked said woman if she was making any plans to change things.  She answered “No. My mother always said that people plan and God laughs. I think she was right so why bother.”

When I was growing up my mother always said, before almost everything she intended to do,  “The Lord willing…”.   I don’t remember how old I was before I realized she was quoting scripture.

The passage Mom was referring to is James 4:13-15.  James, the half brother of Jesus, was writing to the first century Judeo Christians.  He was reminding them that they don’t know what tomorrow holds but our Lord does.  Given that fact, they, as should we, always take the Lord’s plans into account when making any plans of our own.

How often do we really do that though?  I know I for one am a big planner.  I plan everything.  Meals.  Chores. Errands. Naps. Salon appointments. Doctor visits. Vacations. What to wear the next day. How to spend my time. Who to go to lunch with. If and/or when I will lead a women’s group. Or if I will join a bible study. I even plan… for making plans!   

“Have I done so much planning in my life that there is no room for what the Lord has planned?”

The question then becomes where is the line into sin in this area and have I crossed it? Have I done so much planning in my life that there is no room for what the Lord has planned? Have I gone from “thy will be done” to my will be done? I already know the answer is sometimes yes!

Scripture is full of verses about our plans. Proverbs 16:9 and 19:21 tell me that I can make many plans but the Lord will determine my steps, but His purpose, not mine, will prevail. Psalm 40:5 reminds me that the Lord’s plans for my life are too numerous to count. Isaiah 30:1 speaks sobering truth that sorrow can await me when my plans are contrary to the Lord’s.

In my sinfulness, I plan like I know what the future holds. In reality, I don’t know what the next hour or minute holds but I continue as if I do AND as if I can control what happens after my next breath.   This is pure arrogance and self sufficiency on my part. Simply stated it is me acting independently and leaving God completely out of my agenda.

The character in the movie was not totally wrong. Psalm 37:13 does say “The Lord laughs at the wicked for He knows their day is coming.”  The context here is evil people are planning and plotting against the righteous to do them harm and the Lord is not happy about it. While that part is true, I don’t think the Lord is laughing at me and all of my planning. But, I’m sure He is not pleased with me either if/when I continually make many plans that crowd Him out. 

What He has been showing me over the past 4 years is that it’s ok for me to have hopes and dreams and to plan for the future, but I have to trust that His plans are not just good, they are better than better!  When my best laid plans don’t work out, will I abide in Him and His sovereignty or will I slip into a place of anger, cynicism, bitterness or even despair? I have to hold any plans I’ve made very loosely in the palm of my hand knowing that He could change them at any moment. 

As I’ve grown in faith and spiritual maturity, I’m learning to hold God to His word more often. His word tells me in Psalm 138:8 that He will work out his plans for my life even when I can’t possibly see or understand what He is doing.  There’s great comfort in those words because I believe He is faithful to His promises.

-Beverly Kinard, Pelham