A Better Plan

How often do you think about the time you were in your mothers' belly? How cramped you were at the end of the pregnancy? I know, you were in complete control of when your mother would give birth. You were screaming in baby talk, "Get me out of here!" Boom! Next thing you know, you are feeling the cool air. You had complete control over that whole experience. When you would be conceived, the date and time you would be born, you had dialed it down to the exact minute and second. Obviously, I'm kidding. No one planned to be born, and no one remembers the moments in their mother's belly, at least no one I've ever met. As we enter adolescence, our days continue to be planned for us and we are simply along for the ride. Remember how easy it was? Playdates, fieldtrips, family vacations, all set in place by someone else.

As we grow older, we start to take the reins and believe we are in control of our own destiny. We begin planning and calculating what will bring about our desired outcome. We do it because we are taught it works and because we are afraid to be out of control. Early on we are taught to go to college, get a degree, find a decent paying job, get married, and the list goes on. It's as if there is a perfect formula for life to unravel in the best possible way. If you do "a, b and c, you will get x, y and z." Unfortunately, life is not a straight line. It doesn't take long to discover that bad things happen in life and those bad things can throw all of your plans in a tailspin. I wonder what would be different about your life if you knew someone else was in control of your future. Would you feel, think or behave differently than you do now? How often do you believe that if you do something a certain way, you will get your desired outcome?

For me, I stopped articulating what my future would be and trying to make my aspirations come to fruition. I learned through continuous pain that my life is very much out of my hands. But there has been another area in which I've tried to maintain equilibrium. For a long time, I believed that I had a responsibility to make all the "right decisions" in order to protect my relationship with God. Almost as if one bad decision today will alter my relationship with Him forever. I know, it sounds ridiculous and that's because it is. But I truly believed I had the power to control and predict the outcome with God and because I thought this, I lived in continuous fear, rather than receiving His love that He was trying to lavish on me.

Whenever we strive for control, no matter what the area may be, we forget the sovereignty of God and take matters into our own hands, forfeiting the beauty and blessing that comes from trusting God. It all boils down to believing our Heavenly Fathers heart towards us. If I am convinced that He isn't aware of my desires and is a dictator withholding good things from me, then no wonder I want to take matters into my own hands. I challenge you to ask yourself these questions:

1. In what areas and ways am I trying to control my own future?

2. Do I truly believe that God is in control and knows what I need and when I need it?

3. Do I trust when things go wrong that God has a plan that I might not understand?

4. Am I living for outcomes or for communion with God Himself?

5. Do I think I am so powerful that I can ruin Gods plan for my life or cause Him to love me less?

Ask God prayerfully and answer for yourself honestly. If you desire freedom, you must relinquish control. This isn't to say that you have no part in God's plan for your life, but it was predetermined before your life even began and your role is primarily to find your all in Him. If you are constantly looking to people, things or whatever other outcome your hope is set on, you will be disappointed.

When God made a covenant with Abram, He promised Himself as Abram's reward.

After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward."

What is your desire? Can it truly satisfy you? If your honest answer is God Himself, you have probably endured much loss, for suffering is a great means to finding true fulfillment. If that is where your heart is, do you believe you are safe and secure with the Father? If all you desire is Him, you will have Him.

If you are afraid to let go of control, whatever that means for you, let me assure you of some truths from the wisest source:

Proverbs 16:9

The heart of a man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

Proverbs 19:21

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

Jeremiah 1:5

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.

Ephesians 2:10

For we are his masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Philippians 1:6

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Psalm 138:8

The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.

God knows the plans and purposes for your life specifically. He knows what will crush you in order to produce oil and a beautiful fragrance that flows from your life. You carry an essence, a fragrance. The more you try to control what kind of pain you do or do not endure, the less of a fragrance there will be. The more willing you are to let go, the more beautiful the aroma. I know that what I'm saying is not easy, but since you can't control the outcome or pain you will face, you might as well learn how to float down the river. When you stop kicking and screaming for the life preserver, you will find someone is holding you up beneath the water's surface. He has you in the palm of His hand and wants you to trust His love and plan for you, in every single area of your life.