Lost In the Prairies.....Found by God: Planning Isn't Always the Answer

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Planning Isn't Always the Answer

5:08 PM | Posted by Michelle | Edit Post

I'm a planner. I plan everything in advance: meals, cleaning, birthday parties, Christmas, kids college, retirement, etc... I come from a long list of planners. Christmas next year is already being planned by June (the where and the what, not the actual meal). We even start planning what happens at the end. A common topic of discussion is our wills - the ultimate plan.

There are times when I'm struggling through life where I start planning the what ifs. If so and so happens, I'll .... I've always been that way. I feel a sense of control over the situation. A sense that no matter what happens I'll be ok. I've never throught of my planning as a control or safety mechanism, but it is.

Lately through scripture and study, God has been revealing who is in control of every situation. I've been reading "The Worn Out Woman" by Dr. Steve Stephens and Alice Gray. They suggest and I agree, that my need to control and plan is actually my lack of trust in God.

“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 than food, and the body more 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? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 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. (Matthew 6:25-34 NIV)

These verses speak of God's promise to provide for us. In a world where all we hear about is looming debt issues it is easy to worry about our futures and what will we do if.. But God is there. He has plans for us. He will provide for us. It may not look the way we want it to but it is the way He planned. When we worry about our money, food or home, are we really trusting God? God will provide for each of us. He may be asking us to change the way we think things should be, but He will care for us. Remember Jesus fed 4000 with only 7 loaves and a few fish (Mark 8: 1-17). What will He do for you?

Life throws many twists and curves and none of us can be truly prepared for what is around the next curve. But how is worrying really going to help the situation? I can think about all the what ifs but until I'm there I won't be able to do anything about it. I can have all my contingency plans in place but really am I trusting God in these situations. Am I allowing Him to care for me? Am I truly submitting and surrendering to Him or am I trying to lead?

I will be praying through my situations. Allowing God to lead. Allowing Him to provide for me in all my circumstances.

I'm linking up with the Soli Deo Gloria sisterhood at Finding Heaven.

5 comments:

Deidra said...: You are so right that this is a control issue. I plan incessantly, and even though very few of my plans actually come to fruition, I continue to do it, knowing that it probably won't work that way and that I can't plan for every contingency. It's hard to let go of it all and follow blindly, even though I know He not only knows the way, HE IS the way.

Glad to know I'm not the only one with these issues!; September 20, 2011 at 6:42:00 PM MDT
Pamela said...: I am so a planner. But I've tried to "go with the flow" as I age. To be honest I still plan. I just don't spazz out when the plans don't mesh with real life. Well, at least I try not to. :-); September 20, 2011 at 9:38:00 PM MDT
Sherri said...: Oh Michelle this is scary. This is EXACTLY what I wrote about on my blog today. I am a control freak aka a planner as well. I struggle daily with letting HIM take control.; September 20, 2011 at 11:04:00 PM MDT
Aritha V. said...: I'am also a control freak. But your blog shows me that my eye should not focus on my schedule but on/to God, Who will always care for me. Thank you for this great blog.; September 21, 2011 at 5:49:00 AM MDT
Unknown said...: Amen, girl. You said it and you said it well. The other night, the kids and I were reading the kids version of Jesus Calling and the title of the devotion was "Control is Peace" but the message was that we will only have true peace when God is in control.; September 21, 2011 at 9:10:00 AM MDT