In Control

Do you ever have goals that you have wanted to meet but have fallen short? I have had quite a few of those in my life! For example, I wanted to be writing this blog at least twice a month and also to let you know how I was going to be helping those in my community. Then there is that goal that my husband and I wanted for our 25th anniversary. That trip to Europe-let me just tell you that it's not happening! Or the fact that when we moved to this house when our oldest was in kindergarten we had plans to finish the basement into bedrooms and a family room. That daughter will be turning 21 in a few days and the basement is more like a huge junk room! Now, I could become very legalistic and down on myself and spend hours wondering why some of these goals are not being met. Am I a failure? Why can't I ever do anything right? What are we doing wrong that these goals are never met? This would be a great deal of wasted time though. The fact of the matter is, well, just this-- God's plan happens!

The Bible is filled with stories of people who had thoughts, goals and dreams but the path their life took was probably not the one they had foreseen. For instance, I imagine Noah did not have "being ridiculed for building an enormous boat in backyard" as his number one goal. Or can you imagine that Abraham planned to have his first child late in life? I'm thinking he probably would not have picked to be woken up at night by a squalling baby in his later years! Then there was that guy Sampson. You know the one-muscles and strength beyond compare because of his goal of bench pressing more than any other guy in the gym. Oh, wait-- it was his hair that held the secret of his success not strength training! Finally, there is that sweet teenage girl named Mary. Her goals were probably focused on having a beautiful wedding and starting life with her new husband and then having a baby. Well, that goal didn't work out too well, did it?

I think I have told you before that I used to have a huge problem with trying to forsee the future and plan it down to the last detail. I did this to try to gain control of the situation but it never worked out very well. The fact is that I will never be in complete control of my future because God is! He tells us in Jeremiah 29:11,

" '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.' "

God knows already what his plans are for us. He made these plans even before we were born! Carve out some quiet time for yourself and read Psalm 139. You won't be disappointed! We can rest in the assurance given by the psalmist that God is in control. He loves us so much that our plan was made even before time began. He knows us inside and out! Though the waves of life crash around us and threaten to drown us, God is there with his plan! We may not always understand it or agree with it. We may question the methods. We may want to run the opposite direction! However, let me put your mind at ease. God's way is always the best way!