If The Lord Wills

Many people love to plan.  They plan for the next vacation or plan for the next life event.  Planning is a part of life and helps a person to be more organized.  It also helps those in leadership positions to track the many events, duties, and responsibilities that come with their job.  You might say that planning is essential.  But there is an old saying that goes like this: “Man plans, God laughs.”  I read these thoughts from a Psychology Today article: “Despite our most careful planning, the Road of Life is unpredictable…Our best-laid plans in life can be upended by unexpected changes, which could be either disappointing or exhilarating. Personal or other setbacks, losses of loved ones, illnesses or accidents, broken hearts, or tortured souls, are not uncommon occurrences in our lives.” (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/man-plans-and-god-laughs)  

     So regardless of how carefully we plan, details in our lives can change in an instant.

     But for a believer who is walking with God, there is an added dimension that is vitally important to this topic. The believer still plans, but he/she does not leave it there.  They continue with “if the Lord wills.”  A mature Christian has an understanding that nothing occurs in this universe without God’s say so.  He is the Controller of human history.  Brother and sisters, when we plan it should always be done in the light of “if the Lord wills.”  This brings up a favorite verse that I think works hand in hand with James 4:15. Proverbs 3:5-6 which says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”  We are to trust in the Lord with all our heart even when life throws us a curveball or when tragedy strikes.  We lean on our own understanding because we see only what is in front of us.  We have no idea what God is doing in the universe behind the scenes. Let’s not use only our eyes!  And here comes the payoff: “In all your ways acknowledge Him.”  Everything you do and everything you plan should be done by acknowledging God first.  I am going to work today, “if the Lord wills.”  I am going to visit a friend this weekend, “if the Lord wills.”  I am going on vacation at the end of the month, “if the Lord wills.”  We can even acknowledge Him by saying, I will take my next breath, “if the Lord wills.”  I am not suggesting that you do this for everything little thing, but I hope you can see what I am driving at.  How many of us take the time to just ask the Lord if something we plan or even pray about is in His will?  God loves you and has a divine plan that is perfect.  Everything He “wills” is without flaw. I challenge you to take the time daily, to say more and more as James exhorted us, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.”

Dave F. 

     ‘69 / ‘76 / Egg Harbor Twp   NJ

Doris Jean H

’44 / ’55 Manheim PA