Devotions this week based on the Message: “Fear or Faith?”
“Man proposes. God disposes.”
Ever heard that phrase before? Ever realized the truth of that phrase before?
Just when you think you have life all planned and set to go a certain direction, the plan fails.
What happens next?
We can blame God for messing up our plans. We can question God and wonder why our great plans are not happening. We can experience fear because the future that we thought was so certain is now up in the air.
The disciples in the boat with Jesus were fearful of drowning.
Mark 4:37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
The torrent of the waters led the disciples to question Jesus’ heart. In a few moments, Jesus went from an amazing rabbi, a caring healer, a miraculous provider… to a heartless, careless, murderer.
Jesus hadn’t changed the plans. They were still going to the other side of the lake. The difference was, the pathway across changed from what the disciples thought was going to be a smooth sale across the Sea of Galilee.
The disciples despaired that something good was going to come out of the storm. Yet, Jesus’ plan would instill awe and understanding more fully of who he was and the power he had.
Jesus’ plan was better and perfect.
When storms of life disrupt our plan and perception of what life should be like, don’t panic. Don’t think that God who loves you, died for you, and promises you heaven all of a sudden turned on you to be a vindictive, mean, angry God. He hasn’t changed. His plan hasn’t changed. His love for you hasn’t changed. What changed was OUR plan.
The new question to ask when your plans changed is this, “God I trust your plan for me. Help me to see the blessing you are bringing by changing my plans into your plans.”
Fear comes when we doubt God’s plan. Faith leads us to trust God’s plan. Trusting that God’s plan is always better than my plan leads me to live in peace…even when my plans change. I know God is just making the plan better.
Here’s a few great reminders:
James 4:13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”
Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.
Psalm 35:14 But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” 15 My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
God’s plans are always best…trust them!
Apply: What is your plan for today? Commit it to the Lord first. Then go forward, at peace even when the plan changes…because God’s plans are always best.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for loving me and always desiring and planning the best for me. Help me to have my plans always defer to your plans. AMEN.