Sometimes God doesn’t tell us His plan because we wouldn’t believe it anyway.
– Carlton Pearson
Jeremiah 29:11 says, “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” But while God’s Word does tell us that there is a plan, He stops short of revealing to us what that specific plan is for each one of our lives. Sometimes, like what many of us are going through right now – times of uncertainty about our futures, both professionally and personally – we wish that He would. I know there are times that I wish He would just pick up the phone or drop me an e-mail that clearly outlines where I am headed and what I need to be doing to get there. But, at the same time, I don’t know if I could handle that. If God would have told me ten years ago that I would be where I am today, and would’ve told me all that I would’ve experienced over the past ten years, I don’t know that I would’ve believed it. Never in a million years would I have thought that my college days would’ve been filled with ministry rather than party after party. Never in a million years would I have though my years after college would’ve been what they have come to be. Looking back, I wouldn’t trade the experiences that God has blessed me with for all the money in the world… but as a graduating senior from Westlake High School, I wouldn’t have chosen the road I ended up traveling for all the money in the world either. The truth is that none of knows what tomorrow will bring us. And that is part of what makes our respective walks with the Lord exciting. Although to many of us, it might feel more like 10% exciting, 90% scary. For those of us in that boat, God has some insight for us in Matthew, Chapter 6:
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? … So do not worry, saying, `What shall we eat?’ or `What shall we drink?’ or `What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Now that doesn’t mean don’t work, and just kick back and wait for the provisions to come rolling in. God also spends some time telling us of the need to work and put our gifts and talents to use for His kingdom. But it does mean that while we may not know what the future holds, we know who holds the future, And while we may not always see where we are going, we know that we will be alright. After all, God’s word is a lamp unto our feet… not a blinding search light that illuminates the next 30 years of our lives… He shows us our next step… and usually not more than one step at a time. Can you imagine if we could see the next 30 years? We would be so overwhelmed that we would more than likely falter at our next step. But if we seek FIRST His Kingdom and seek FIRST His Righteousness, our NEEDS will be taken care of. One way or another. Maybe not in the way that we would chose… maybe not to the extent that we may desire, but make no mistake, our needs will be met.
But let’s jump a little farther ahead in the story… while we don’t know where our lives may be headed individually, we do know where life is headed ultimately. While God has not revealed to us our own individual stories, He has told us the ultimate ending of the big story. We all know that one day, Jesus is coming back. We all know that one day, regardless of our worldly success and wealth, we will be co-inheritors of the Kingdom. We know that death and satan have no ultimate power over us. And we know that one day we will stand in the presence of God, and that ‘the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Rev 21:3-4) We know that the big story has a happy ending for those that believe.
So I say to you this morning, regardless of your particular lot in life right now, do not worry. Do not stress over what will come of your tomorrow. Instead, have faith that the Lord will provide for your needs. Take a minute and look back on your life and all the times that God has faithfully provided for your needs, and believe that He will continue to do so. If you want something to stress about, then worry about all those people in your life that don’t know God, and for whom the final outcome is not certain. Spend your worry energy on them – and make an effort to do something about it.
Jon
June 26, 2001
