Trusting the Lord When Life Changes!

As Kathy and I finish our time serving in Florida, and as we prepare to return home to Alaska, there are lots of things we want to accomplish. We are working on observing Holy Week and celebrating Easter. There is a lot to do for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter. Such celebration is important! For example, Kathy purchased food on April 7 for the Passover Meal on April 17 because . . . she is cooking! We have a family Easter celebration planned. And there is a family wedding on May 3. And please don’t forget, we have our “annual fish fry” planned for Saturday, April 26. Those are just some of the jobs and activities we plan to accomplish before leaving Florida. We know what we have to do, and we are ready to accomplish those tasks.

However, maybe you have seen the oft-quoted saying. “If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans.” That is not a verse from Scripture. But, let me share with you a few verses from the Bible about how God deals with our plans.

Do you know Proverbs 16:9? “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” Or, have you read God’s wisdom from Provers 19:21? “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.” In other words, we may have plans for what we want to do. But we are not Lord – He is! God has a say in our lives.

The book of James also shares similar thoughts. “13 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit"-- 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’" (James 4:13-15) In other words, we may have plans, but God is LORD of all things. He is Lord of our lives. Humble acknowledgment that “God is Lord” is wise!

Part of the plans I have for our fish fry is that I want about 20 more fish for this occasion. We have had between 35-60 people attend. I am looking forward to catching those fish. Therefore, it was not in my plans to have someone drive into the back of my vehicle when I was stopped at a traffic light on Saturday afternoon April 5. The other driver and I are both fine, and I drove my vehicle home thinking about fishing that afternoon. However, because of damage I did not see, I should not have driven the car home. It is now truly undrivable with my rear driver’s side wheel bent in, and my brakes leaking fluid. On Monday a tow truck brought my car to the shop for repairs. And who knows how long that will take! In addition, Kathy left Tuesday morning for her yearly quilting conference. Have you tried to work with an insurance company to get a vehicle which will tow a boat? If I shared everything about my conversations with insurance, this devotion would take many more pages!

Now, I know that my home was not destroyed by war. No tornado took away family members. I do not have a terminal diagnosis for cancer. The accident did not take my life, nor that of a loved one. But, I did have plans, as did Kathy! The accident was not our mistake. Our plans must change. How do we deal with life when life changes our plans? I do hear my Lord speaking from Scripture.

First, our plans may change, but God does not. Please consider Hebrews 13:8. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (See also Malachi 3:6 a)

Jeremiah 29:11 is often quoted out of context, but the Lord promises His love in these verses to people whose lives are different than they desire. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

What are those plans which our Lord has for His children? Listen to Romans 8:38-39. “38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Did you hear that promise? Nothing “in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Therefore, knowing that our Lord and His love for us does not change, the wisdom of Proverbs 3 speaks to my heart. “5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) When life changes, I can trust the Lord who does not change. I can trust in the Lord who loves me eternally in Jesus. I can trust in my Lord, and He will guide me through unexpected changes in life.

Yes, life is unsure. Such uncertainty can mean life, or death. Such uncertainty can even affect fishing plans. Nevertheless, the Lord and His love for us in Jesus are sure. In a world of uncertainty, when life and plans do change, we can we can count on the Lord and His love. “5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”