Lately, I have found myself becoming annoyed with delays and obstacles in my schedule. With a to-do list with zero room for error or interruption, there is no question in my mind of why I am annoyed. I have plans and goals and I intend to accomplish them.
A schedule that is on the go with new projects and current objectives that beg to be achieved. A family of two active boys and a husband that I am passionate about, keep me on my toes and add adventure to my life. Every minute has value to me, except for delays and interruptions.
Obstacles and detours in my day make me feel out of control and I don’t like it. But what’s a girl to do when feeling out of control? Make more charts, calendars and graphs to work around the interruptions? Or maybe I need a life coach to help me be more organized.
In the book of Isaiah, chapter 30, God writes some profound words that rip my heart open and give me the answer to eliminating my frustrations.
“Woe to my rebellious children, says the Lord; you ask advice from everyone but me and decide to do what I don’t want you to do. You yoke yourselves with unbelievers, thus piling up your sins. For without consulting me you have gone down to Egypt to find aid and have put your trust in Pharaoh for his protection. But in trusting Pharaoh, you will be disappointed, humiliated and disgraced, for he can’t deliver on his promises to save you. For though his power extends to Zoan and Hanes, yet it will all turn out to your shame—he won’t help one little bit!” (vs.1-5 TLB, italics mine)
The answer is in italics: “Woe to my rebellious children, says the Lord; you ask advice from everyone but me and decide to do what I don’t want you to do. …without consulting me… you will be disappointed, humiliated and disgraced, for he can’t deliver on his promises to save you.”
God is the author of my to-do list; not me or even the best life-coach I can pay. When I leave God out of the planning equation, I open myself up to frustration, wrong turns and delays.
Proverbs 16: 3 says, “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” Jeremiah 10:23 proclaims, “I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.” (ESV)
God created time. He knows our past, our future. He uniquely designed our gifts and our talents to be a blessing to this world. He is the only one who can adequately plan my days, turning obstacles into opportunities and frustrations into purpose.
How can you choose today to hold your plans loosely, and trust that your life is in God’s hands?
What do you think?