“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” (Proverbs 19:21 NIV)
God’s plans trump ours. No one’s plans have worked out the way they thought they would. Everyone has a different reality from what they thought.
I recently watched a show on Apple TV called “Trying.” A British comedy about a young couple “trying” to get pregnant. In this scene, Nikki, the heroine is babysitting. Her friend is having a baby, and Nikki is taking care of her daughter. As they sit in the car eating ice cream, Nikki questions her young friend on her thoughts for having a sibling. The girl isn’t happy, she has already realized, her parents don’t have as much time for her. Nikki looks at her and says:
“You can’t get too attached to what you think your life’s going to be, that’s where your problems start.”
Nikki is a fictional character with wisdom. All of us need to accept, life never goes as planned. Ask any bride about her wedding day, she’ll tell you what went wrong. The seniors who graduated in 2020 have learned this lesson young. And when you talk to someone who has lived a long life, they can share story after story about the unexpectedness of their days.
God’s plans trump ours.
If we’re going to enjoy life to the fullest, we need to learn to ride the wave.
Where I live in Virginia, I’m close to the ocean. I was 21 years old the first time I saw the massive body of water. Thirty years later, I’m still in awe of the ocean’s raw power. In the summer, we spend most weekends at the beach. One of my favorite things to do is body surf. Body surfing is catching a wave at just the right moment and riding it into shore. You feel the power of the water as it carries you with it. You can’t fight the waves, you can only go with them. Literally, “go with the flow” of the tide. At the end, when I’m dumped on shore, I feel exhilarated. For a moment, I’m one with the ocean, moving in sync with its energy. No other world exists, just pure pleasure in the moment.
Life is like the ocean. Sometimes the water is calm, barely any waves. Other times, the winds stir up and the waves are violent. When the waves are crashing around you, the only thing to do is ride out the storm.
We make our plans, but God’s plans trump ours. In order to enjoy the ride, we have to accept the truth. God’s way is always best. When we submit our lives to Him, He’ll teach us to surf. We’ll learn to ride the waves, trusting Him for our destination.
Question of the Day:
What waves are you fighting today?
Further Reading: 2 Chronicles 1:1-3:17 NIV, Romans 6:1-23 NIV, Psalm 16 NIV, Proverbs 19:20-21 NIV
