Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.
I have made many plans in my life. Planning gives order to what would be a chaotic, aimless existence. How I hold those plans is determined by how I see myself in light of my view of God. When I believe I know what’s best, despite what God has in mind, I struggle accepting the changes that have derailed my plans. It is when I confess that I am little and God is big that I find peace with change. Knowing God is loving, faithful and trustworthy I am constrained to entrust myself to Him. I must choose to surrender to His will, submit to His authority, acknowledge His sovereignty and yield to His way. In this there is hope and peace.
The average day rarely goes as planned or imagined. Though my agenda keeps my life from complete chaos, even a well-planned day isn’t complete without changes, unexpected situations, countless interruptions and surprises. It’s not unusual to think my day is going in one direction only to find my plan detoured and redirected down another path. I have learned, through practice, to accept changes and to hold my schedule with an open hand. While my tendency is to resist change, a glitch in a day is hardly something to lose my peace over! Minor levels of resistance require regrouping and rethinking.
Sadly for those of us who want order and control in our lives, change and interruptions do not remain small or insignificant. Life has a way of not turning out as we’d imagined. Accidents happen, people disappoint, health declines, jobs are lost, people die. Suddenly, often without warning, the future looks very different than we had planned or pictured. The unknown future often seems bleak. Instead of a minor redirection, it’s more of a derailment or a shipwreck leaving us grieved, fearful, lost and perhaps angry and without direction or vision for the future. We tend to resist and push back against these unwelcome changes and all that they means for us.
Lot was such a man. Two angels, appearing as men, were sent to the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to warn Lot and his family that the Lord was about to rain sulfur and fire down to destroy the cities. The angels urgently implored him to get his family out of the city and into the hills. Leaving would be more than abandoning his home. It meant a complete change of status, wealth and an unknown future. God’s consideration meant sacrifice for Lot and his loved ones. Their very real losses were God’s great mercy and kindness upon him and his family. This interruption was an intervention of rescue.
But Lot lingered. Instead of acting as a man leaving a burning building, he belabored perhaps pondering/processing what it would mean to stay or to leave. In keeping with the urgency of the situation, the angels seized him, his wife and two daughters and dragged them by the hands out of the city. As they were leaving they were told to escape for their lives and not to look back or stop anywhere in the valley.
Luke 17:32-33 Remember Lot’s wife. Whoever seeks to perserve his life will lose it and whoever loses his life will keep it.
Lot wasn’t the only one dragging his feet. Lot’s wife, who trailed behind him, looked back. As most commentators have stated, it wasn’t a mere glance over the shoulder but a regretful longing for what she’d left behind. Her treasures were earthly and therein her heart was found. And it was her heart, revealed in a disobedient look back, that betrayed her. She lost the life she desired to preserve and became a pillar of salt.
Proverbs 16:9 The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.
When God changes our plans He aligns our plans with His. Not only does he order the steps of the righteous but he protects them when they fall. He has them by the hand. (Psalm 37:23-24) His daily rescue intercedes on our behalf fulfilling his plan and purpose. He does for us what we cannot do for ourselves. God’s intervention determines the direction of our lives like the landscape determines the course of a river. God doesn’t mind inconveniencing us or interrupting our plans to meet our needs or the needs of others while revealing Himself and displaying His glory.
And so do not fear and do not lose heart. A change of plans, a life interrupted, is part of the good work our Lord is doing. He is perfect. His will and His ways are perfect. And great are His steadfast love and faithfulness toward you.
Walk the Upward Path 