This past week has been totally unexpected. We have had a series of phone calls from someone we had never met before. Unbeknown to us, this person knew quite a bit about us! And wanted to know more. It kind of reminded us that there is Someone who knows more about us than we realize. We sometimes feel like we are able to keep things hidden from God and never speak to Him about those things. That doesn't mean He doesn't know about us, we just hope He doesn't know some of the things! After several phone conversations we now think that there isn't much more that we can share that isn't already known. This person has now become very important to us. We are looking forward to a meeting between us. Our relationship is unseen; we are unknown to each other. Our judgements are based on voice and reputation only. This relationship kind of reminds me of our relationship with God. We know Him by reputation. We can't even hear His voice by phone. Though if we listen, He speaks to us in many other ways--in the Bible, by the Holy Spirit and in our consciences, in the beauty around us every day and in thousands of other ways. And He knows us--He created us, He sees all that we do, He hears our requests. He knows that we are selfish beings and often think of only ourselves. He sees our troubles, yet He responds to us before we even ask.
Do you make plans for the future? I do! Do they come true? Not very often! I make them on my own and leave others and God out of my plans. And that is sad! God Has a Plan! We all have plans. There are large plans such as going to college, having a family, or getting a job, and there’s also smaller plans such as hanging out with friends, going shopping, or making pasta for dinner. In our mind, most of us have some idea for our future whether it’s ten minutes from now or ten years from now. The simple truth is this: We spend so much of our time designing our future and focusing on fulfilling the ideas that we have for ourselves. But what happens when our plans for ourselves don’t align with God’s plans for us?
I know we’ve all experienced a plan that we had been looking forward to, and have it completely fall through. But what if that’s for a reason larger than you know? I’ve got stories that I can tell you from others and from myself about times when “failed” plans actually saved lives or resulted in something far better than was intended in the first place. We thought we had a plan for our future days for the time we have left on this earth before Jesus comes to take us to our heavenly home. The first time we were asked about our "nursing home" plans, we were taken aback! It had not occurred to us way back that many years ago that we should be thinking along those lines. But once the suggestion was in our minds, it was hard to not think about it and try to figure out what our plans should be. The one thing we knew was we should not plan on having the one asking about our plans to want to help us when the time came for needing care. Luckily there were others that did want to help.
This week, our new acquaintance amazed us! We heard the most unselfish message! A message that told us that when the day comes should we need extra help with our daily living, that we should not worry! This person volunteered to give up their life, leave their own home, come to stay, and live with us and give whatever help would be needed. To actually move and come to live with us! That offer is so hard to understand. As I think about it, I am not sure that I am that unselfish. It would be pretty hard for me to make that sacrifice! And I am kind of ashamed to admit it. At the same time, I am so thankful for the willingness to come to help when the need becomes a reality.
That conversation and offer reminded me so much of what Jesus did. He was willing to leave His own beautiful home and come to this earth, to me and you. He came here--to live with us--because of love, because of care for our well-being, because we needed a Savior. We needed Someone to take care of our needs. Someone who would do anything for us because of love. Someone who will come to live in our homes and lives. Just one caveat--He wants to be invited. He offers but we need to accept His offer. He will never come uninvited. He just wants us to understand, He wants to come!!!!! To come and provide what we need!
God Has a Plan--Isn't it wonderful to know that God has a plan for our lives? Like that we can know that he literally has our entire life mapped out for us in advance. God did not create us, put us here on earth, and then remove Himself from our lives. That is really quite the contrary to His original plan! God said to everyone--"For 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". Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
Knowing that He has a plan and then trusting that His plan is much better than the one we may have dreamed up and dreamed about for ourselves is such an important part of growing closer to God and growing stronger in our faith. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
God has a Plan for Me and You! Trusting that God has a plan for my life may not be easy, but I am willing to try. I am ready to humble myself and be open to whatever He has planned for me. What about you? Are you ready to join me in trusting God with our future?
How to Let Go and Let God, One Day at a Time--
1) Identify what you can control—and what you can't. ... 2) Address what you can control. ... 3) Surrender what you can't control. ... 4) Meditate on the promises of your faithful God. ... 5) Choose a “letting go” motto. ... 6) Resolve not to act on fear but on faith.
True faith isn’t faith until it is tried. God has a Plan for Me and You! Trusting that God has a plan for my life may not be easy, but I am willing to try. I am ready to humble myself and be open in faith to whatever He has planned for me.
What about you? Are you ready to join me in trusting God with faith our future?
