July 1, 2008 IOW
“I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out -plans to take care of you . . .” Jeremiah 29:11 (The Message)
I love how this verse starts out, “I know what I’m doing.” I’ve used that line myself many times with my grandkids, co-workers, and even my husband trying to convince them that I do know what I’m doing. “Have a little faith in me,” is the message behind the statement.
How often have we been guilty of hanging around God with a plan B in our hands just in case God’s plan doesn’t work out? We seem to think that since “He knows” it should be to the courtesy of us that He should share what His plans are. If that were the case where would faith come in? What role would trust, believing, and patience in God play if we were told the details long before anything happened?
Our reasoning goes on to tell us that if God would let us know what His plans were then we could help. We’d be able to step aside and not mess up His plans by the choices we often make. We fail to hear the message behind God’s statement of “I know what I’m doing,” as the same one behind mine when I say it, “Have a little faith in me. I don’t need your help, I need your faith!”
Looking over the events in my life I’m not so sure I would have wanted to know what the plan for my life was. The head injury I was going to receive, the brain surgery to fix it, epilepsy, another brain surgery, and more that followed. I think if God would have handed over the blueprints of my life ahead of time I only would have been struck with fear of what was to come instead of fear of God and trusting Him with the details. I really doubt, knowing ahead of time, if I would have positioned myself better on the school bus so when I was to hit my head I’d have the perfect blow to the back of my head. No! I would have whined and whimpered and called in sick that day so I wouldn’t have been on the bus.
Like it or not, we have to admit there are some things that are best left a mystery until they happen. It makes me think of my first and only trip to Disneyland that took place this year. Not being a person who does carnival rides well my friend with me decided it was best not to tell me about the Indiana Jones adventure. Trustingly I boarded the ride without a clue of what was coming up. All was going well. The adventure in the dark was fun when I suddenly noticed the young kids in front of me raise their arms. What did they know that I didn’t know, was a question I was going to soon find an answer to as the ride took a dip downward from one level to another.
Praise the Lord for eyelids that I could close my eyes on the ride as if that helped, yeah right. Six trips later on the ride I managed to make the journey without closing my eyes. Turning to my friend at the end of the 6th journey I told her, “mommy I kept my eyes open that time.” Laughing at the thought of it I’d have to say I’d probably behave the same way with God if He had told me His plans for my life ahead of time. Perhaps after the 6th or 7th or 100th trip around life I would at last be able to turn to God in a trusting manner and tell Him, “Father God I managed to keep my eyes open that time.”
CLOSING THOUGHT: The reason we need to keep our eyes open is not for the arrival of the blueprints of our life but for the purpose of focusing on the One who indeed cares for us. The One who has plans to help us and care for us, not to harm us or scare us as if we were His little pawns in the game of life. When we say that we know what we are doing, we can only hope that is true. With God there is no doubt about it He does know and it’s up to us to put our trust in that knowledge and never doubt it. Showing that little bit of faith the size of a mustard seed that is required for the job.
How often have we been guilty of hanging around God with a plan B in our hands just in case God’s plan doesn’t work out? We seem to think that since “He knows” it should be to the courtesy of us that He should share what His plans are. If that were the case where would faith come in? What role would trust, believing, and patience in God play if we were told the details long before anything happened?
Our reasoning goes on to tell us that if God would let us know what His plans were then we could help. We’d be able to step aside and not mess up His plans by the choices we often make. We fail to hear the message behind God’s statement of “I know what I’m doing,” as the same one behind mine when I say it, “Have a little faith in me. I don’t need your help, I need your faith!”
Looking over the events in my life I’m not so sure I would have wanted to know what the plan for my life was. The head injury I was going to receive, the brain surgery to fix it, epilepsy, another brain surgery, and more that followed. I think if God would have handed over the blueprints of my life ahead of time I only would have been struck with fear of what was to come instead of fear of God and trusting Him with the details. I really doubt, knowing ahead of time, if I would have positioned myself better on the school bus so when I was to hit my head I’d have the perfect blow to the back of my head. No! I would have whined and whimpered and called in sick that day so I wouldn’t have been on the bus.
Like it or not, we have to admit there are some things that are best left a mystery until they happen. It makes me think of my first and only trip to Disneyland that took place this year. Not being a person who does carnival rides well my friend with me decided it was best not to tell me about the Indiana Jones adventure. Trustingly I boarded the ride without a clue of what was coming up. All was going well. The adventure in the dark was fun when I suddenly noticed the young kids in front of me raise their arms. What did they know that I didn’t know, was a question I was going to soon find an answer to as the ride took a dip downward from one level to another.
Praise the Lord for eyelids that I could close my eyes on the ride as if that helped, yeah right. Six trips later on the ride I managed to make the journey without closing my eyes. Turning to my friend at the end of the 6th journey I told her, “mommy I kept my eyes open that time.” Laughing at the thought of it I’d have to say I’d probably behave the same way with God if He had told me His plans for my life ahead of time. Perhaps after the 6th or 7th or 100th trip around life I would at last be able to turn to God in a trusting manner and tell Him, “Father God I managed to keep my eyes open that time.”
CLOSING THOUGHT: The reason we need to keep our eyes open is not for the arrival of the blueprints of our life but for the purpose of focusing on the One who indeed cares for us. The One who has plans to help us and care for us, not to harm us or scare us as if we were His little pawns in the game of life. When we say that we know what we are doing, we can only hope that is true. With God there is no doubt about it He does know and it’s up to us to put our trust in that knowledge and never doubt it. Showing that little bit of faith the size of a mustard seed that is required for the job.
In the journey of life why not go with someone who knows and cares about us. I had my doubts that day at Disneyland if my friend was really my friend, the little sneak! However, there’s no doubt about it we have a friend in Jesus as our traveling companion. He doesn’t need our help just our cooperation, trust, and the kind of faith it takes to let Him work out His plans in our lives. It doesn’t guarantee us a smooth journey, one free of ups and downs, no sudden surprises or sharp turns. What it does guarantee us is a final destination that beats anything we could ever dream of. Safety till the end, strength till the end, guidance until the end. The end of life on earth as we know it and the beginning of the new life in Heaven with Him that will last for all eternity. Arriving with our eyes open and our hearts full of the blessings received from allowing God to work out His plans in us. Something that definitely beats wearing ourselves out attempting to make our own plans work. His plans or ours, one will get us where we need to be the other won’t. The choice again falls on us.
Our host today is Susan over at “Forever His“ wander on over there on your journey and read and share with others about today's verse.
8 comments:
Such an amazing post, bless you dear one.
We don't realize the limits we place on God at the time, do we? I'm so glad you shared your words of wisdom with us. I loved reading this: Safety till the end, strength till the end, guidance until the end. The end of life on earth as we know it and the beginning of the new life in Heaven with Him that will last for all eternity. Arriving with our eyes open and our hearts full of the blessings received from allowing God to work out His plans in us.
God bless you for sharing!
An awesome post! Thanks for such words of encouragment and transparency.
Blessings to you!
Karen, as USUAL I love your writing and ideas on the verses you write about.
Another GREAT illustration about trusting in God with HIS PLANS!
I'm glad he doesn't show us HIS plan till the perfect time.
Trusting in HIM,
Susan
PS Thanks for participating today♥
I rather think I start with Plan B (of my own) and revert to God's plan when mine doesn't work out. Unfortunately that is my pattern, but truthfully, God is working that out and allows for it in His plan... He knew I would choose the wider, miry path... He drew a map and developed a plan to bring me back and I come back bruised, bumped, wounded and dirty but He cleans me up, tends my wounds and sets me back on the path. I can't say I don't wander off from time to time, but I can say I don't go nearly as long or as often away from His narrow way. I would rather have Him, than my own way anyday.
Blessings.
You got me on this part....
"We seem to think that since “He knows” it should be to the courtesy of us that He should share what His plans are. If that were the case where would faith come in?"
Do we ever! Wow...
Faith...and Trust the One who has been at this a very long....long....time....why do we ever doubt...
Eyes open with you!!
lori
I enjoyed your post. I heard Jonni on the radio this morning say, Did God allow me to have the accident or was it a result of living in a fallen word? I don't know but I know whatever He does it is good and wise.
It made me think about baboes in the womb. What if they came out mad that they were in the dark for 9 months?
We know in part. One day we'll know much more and realize how silly we have been.
You made a good point about giving the reins to someone else too--scary.
Thanks for a great post.
Robin
http://heartofwisdom.com/blog
Oh, how I love this post! I'm learning to "keep my eyes open" and trust. So hard and so fulfilling! Bless you for sharing.
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