I am known to say, “If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans for the future.” I get this from where the Bible says, “We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps” (Proverbs 16:9). Yeah, I was going to be world famous rock and roll drummer. When that didn’t pan out, clearly, I was destined to retire (in 2018) from the United States Postal Service. That was my plan. How God must have giggled.
A pastor? Never. Of all the vocations I could have dreamed up, pastor was completely off the radar. Rocket scientist or rodeo cowboy would have been higher on any list. How God must have giggled.
I made plans but God determined my steps. On the one hand, it is comforting to acknowledge we are not in control – God is. On the other hand, that is also sometimes confusing. For instance, over the past twenty-seven years of my pastoral ministry, one of the more common questions I get is, “Why did this happen to me (or to someone I love)?” “My (son, daughter, parent, friend, etc.) is a good person. There are lots of people out there who are far worse.” Whether its cancer or a car accident, we struggle with the idea of God being in charge when bad things happen to good people.
First of all, none of us are good. Not really. Psalm 53:2-3, “God looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God. But no, all have turned away; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not a single one!” Romans 3:23, “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” Even Jesus said in Luke 18:19, “Only God is truly good.” So, there’s that but there are still so many things we do not understand. So many “Why’s?”
In Isaiah 55, God says, “‘My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,’ says the Lord. ‘And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts’” (Isaiah 55:8-9).
Although, this is true. None of us could ever expect to know the mind of God. It doesn’t always help when we are heartbroken.
It took me years, but it finally hit me one day. Why is it that I only seem to question God’s sovereignty or plan when I am hurting? I am in good health. I am blessed with a wonderful wife of forty-two years. I have three amazing, healthy sons, two fantastic daughters-in law, and two beautiful grandchildren. All of my parents (mom, dad, stepmom, and in-laws) are still alive. I did nothing to deserve or earn such blessings. I still fall short of God’s glorious standard. In fact, if I took time to list all my faults and failures, this would be a much longer devotion. Yet, I tend to quickly forget God is in control here too. In my blessings. In the daily miracles that I can take for granted. I’ve made so many poor choices in the past forty-plus years and still He says, “…be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
No, I still don’t always understand why bad things happen. But I also don’t understand why my life is so blessed. Yes, His ways are far beyond anything I could imagine. However, in the end, I trust that God will never leave me or forsake me. That He loves me. Wants only the best for me because He was willing to die for me. So, I could one day be with Him forever in heaven. And that is enough. It’s more than I deserve. How about you?
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