Not In The Plan

Are you a planner or do you do life more organically?  Some years ago, I had a friend who told me that she’s a “planner.”  I had to think about that for a while and I even asked her what she meant by that.  “Well, you know,” she responded, “I like to have my ducks in a row, make sure things are properly scheduled and thought through so there aren’t any mishaps.”

I was perplexed by what she said, but she also observed that I had to be somewhat of a “planner.” I was raising three children, doing meals, lunches, schedules, ministry stuff, travel, etc. all at the same time.  “What about when you took your kids to Europe for a month when they were really little?  Didn’t you do some planning for that?”  When she asked me these questions, I remember agreeing that there’s probably a little bit of a “planner brain” somewhere tucked away in a corner of my “organic brain.”

As I thought about that trip in Europe, even though I did my best to be prepared for everything my kids would need, there were unexpected events and mishaps.  For example, I lost the month long supply of diapers for two of my kids during the first week of the trip.  Additionally, one of my kids came down with a really nasty cold and I struggled to find cold medicine in various languages for the proper age – no easy feat!

I bring all of this to your attention because some people who read this blog are planners and some aren’t so much into planning, you’re a “take it as it comes” kind of person.  No matter what your disposition, all of us go through life and experience disasters, surprises, crises, pitfalls, accidents, windfalls, shocks, etc.  In these times, it’s helpful to remember some things about God. 

For starters, let’s keep Isaiah 55:8-9 in the front of our thinking when our plans don’t go the way that we expect.  In these verses we read, “’For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ declares the Lord.  ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.’”

Also, it helps me to remember Proverbs 19:21 which says, “Many plans are in a man’s heart,

But the counsel of the Lord will stand.”  This verse reminds me that I can make all kinds of plans but, thankfully, God’s plans will always supersede my efforts and scheduling.  For some people, that’s disconcerting because it can seem like God is undoing or interrupting their plans.  For me, it’s very comforting to know that despite all my efforts, God is in control, full stop. 

Finally, I find great comfort when I remember Romans 8:28 which says, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” 

I hope that you will be encouraged about planning, the lack of planning and when plans go awry.  Let’s always remember that God who created everything is the Master Planner!