Once again, it's been a while...
Sitting outside on my front porch on this gorgeous Saturday morning. Birds are chirping, and the sun is beginning to beat down on one side of my body. The world is still moving slowly. People are just beginning to stir and make their plans for the day.
It makes me think of how God plans the days ahead... As people, we all have different ways of making plans. Some of us are impulsive and spontaneous. We thrive on the adventure of not knowing where we our next step lies. Some of us are methodical and carefully plan each of our days, and not just today. We have our entire lives planned according to what makes the most sense and what we most desire so that the unknown can never threaten to induce a negative response from us. Some of us believe in serendipity, that life is just a series of fortunate accidents. We know we can't succeed at planning every aspect of our lives, but we also don't trust that some higher power is directing the course of our lives.
I don't pretend to know why people think so differently. And, I don't pretend to know precisely how our choices and God's plans interact. What I do know is that God is not sitting by watching this world fall to pieces and our lives unravel one thread at a time no matter how much or little we plan. He is God (creator, all-powerful) and Lord (personal, covenantal) who both "created the heavens and stretched them out" and "gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it" (Isaiah 42:5). He is an active God and a warrior. "The Lord goes out like a mighty man, like a man of war he stirs up his zeal" (Isaiah 42:13). He chose us and cares for us. "I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you." (Isaiah 42:6) And, most gracious of all, he sent His Son whom He called "my chosen, in whom my soul delights." He had a plan to "establish justice" and "lead the blind" and "turn the darkness before them into light" and "bring out prisoners from the dungeon." He set the stage of the world and never took His eyes off it. He had a solution when men and women chose to walk away from His loving protection. He was on a mission, and He was willing to give up what was most precious to Him.
....And he wants us to be a part of that mission - "a light to the nations."
So, if you are thinking through your plans for the day and for your life, rest assured that God's thinking too, but He has no doubt or hesitation. If you have your plans for the next ten years all laid out, stop and see how they fit into God's mission. What does your willingness or unwillingness to follow Him say about your desire to be united with Him?
There is something so comforting about resting in God's plans and having a heart that is one with His. Can you imagine if someone was planning to propose to you and you weren't cooperating? This guy you claim to love and spend all this time with has prepared the most extravagant of dates and all he asks is that you enjoy His company and follow His lead for the evening. If you put up a fight or complained about the restaurant or brought up some previous argument you had had or even just showed up sloppily dressed, wouldn't that taint the beauty of what he was about to do for you? Or, what if you knew it was coming, and you wanted to make sure it happened just so, and you told him? Wouldn't your joy in the moment be less because you knew what was coming? Or, wouldn't your disappointment be heightened if he decided to go against your wishes, even if it was for your own good? Worst of all, what if marriage wasn't even on your radar, particularly marriage with him? He professes his love and desire to be united to you in every way, and you tell him you're just not that interested. What had you been doing all that time with him?
These are just a few thoughts. The analogy is certainly not perfect. Just reflecting on Isaiah 42 this morning and the Lord's plans, purposefulness, faithfulness, presence, and care.
