I will be the first to admit that more often than not, I try and help Jesus out. He is quite busy after all, (I am sure) so I gather me to myself and start to wonder about how to get from point A to point B.
At this juncture, I do not want to bother God with this… I tell myself that it is because I should be able to do these things all by myself already, but the truth is: What if God does it in a way I don’t want it to happen?
Or worse…
God doesn’t want it to happen?!
So I figure, If I get far enough along, maybe God will say its ok, I have done so much work already, we can finish it my way this time… In 40+ years, it has never worked… but nobody will say I am not tenacious!
Then there is the difference between trusting God because you have to (there is just no other way) and trusting God when you have numerous other ways to sort it out yourself.
For instance: The cupboards are empty, and there is no way to make food appear because the shop is also empty, and the road is washed away by rain. you have no choice but to put your faith in God. It’s easy.
But, if the cupboards and wallet are empty, you can still make plans, you can borrow money, you can sell your jacket, you can borrow food, etc… you can even try to grow food, or eat those mushrooms growing outside your door…
It is here were I stumble… because it is here where I make plans and then ask God to bless those plans and make them come to fruition. While the bible seems to be telling a different story…
(and no… this doesn’t mean you should sit on your behind and be passive, to do nothing. It is actually an active task and command)
Psalm 127:1 says:
”…If God’s grace doesn’t help the builders,
they will labor in vain to build a house.”
Solomon really drives the point home “It really is senseless to work so hard…” (v2)
In Luke 12:25, Jesus says:
”Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? [or a single cubit to your height?]”
It really appears to be a fruitless exercise until we look at Proverbs 16. The NLT (New Living Translation) says it best:
“We can make our own plans, but the Lord gives the right answer.”
(Proverbs 16:1, NLT)
The direction and explanation in the next four verses are super simple and not too difficult to follow:
1. Know that you will automatically try and make plans (you were so created, you don’t have to fight it)
2. But also know that It is God whose kingdom we represent
3. Understand that we never think our plans and opinions are wrong.
4. But know that God tests your motives, and always will…
Knowing those four things, I really have but only one way to go:
Trust in God,
Submit myself to Him and;
with His Kingdom in mind, the plans will succeed
“…The intentions of the heart belong to a man,
but the answer of the tongue comes from the Lord.
All a person’s ways seem right in his own opinion,
but the Lord evaluates the motives.
Commit your works to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.
The Lord has worked everything for his own ends..”
(Proverbs 16:1-4, NET)
and from the Passion Translation:
“…Go ahead and make all the plans you want, but it’s the Lord who will ultimately direct your steps. We are all in love with our own opinions, convinced they’re correct. But the Lord is in the midst of us, testing and probing our every motive. Before you do anything, put your trust totally in God and not in yourself. Then every plan you make will succeed. The Lord works everything together to accomplish his purpose…”
(Proverbs 16:1-4, TPT)
I love how, while struggling in my own head, the Lord gives me three verses to answer my question before I even started to worry about how to ask… He truly is Jehovah Jireh!
