Plans are an odd thing. The reality is that you can make plans, but you really can’t be too sure of what is going to happen next. When I used to be really into running, I would find myself watching the movie Chariots of Fire and be so inspired by the life of Eric Liddell (the main character of the movie). One day I was researching about Liddell’s life and I learned that the end of Liddell’s life was really intense. After being an Olympic champion, Liddell moved to China to become a missionary. China became a dangerous place to live and Liddell would later be placed into an internment camp. But during this time of Liddell’s life, he continued to share and tell others about God. In 1945, five months before Liddell would have been released from the camp, he died. A missionary at the camp said that Liddell’s last words were, “It’s complete surrender” in response to how he had given his life to God. Dang. Now, I’m not saying that every person is called to live life like Liddell did because God has different plans for each of us, but talk about a man who followed God literally wherever he called him to go.
It’s really easy to make plans and be set on having expectations of how your life will turn out. I’ve been realizing that although it’s good to make plans, it’s also important to hold loosely. Sometimes when we are too expectant for circumstances to take place in our lives, they have a way of becoming idols. And, when these events don’t happen its super easy to be really disappointed. As a result, we miss out on daily blessings that are happening all around us and we can have a really hard time seeing the new direction God is pointing us too. One of my favorite quotes by Liddell is, “Circumstances may appear to wreck our lives and God’s plans, but God is not helpless among the ruins. God’s love is still working. He comes in and takes the calamity and uses it victoriously, working out His wonderful plan of love.” My life has, in many ways, gone differently from how I ever expected it to. There have been mountains to climb, pits of confusion and times of immense joy. But, as I look back, I’m slowly starting to see that God had a direction and purpose for my life all along. Psalm 23 says, “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” So, even though life will turn out differently than from how you expect it too, be reminded that God is always guiding us and that his plans are far greater than ours.
1 Comment
Darcie Utterback
2/16/2017 09:27:37 pm
Thank you, needed this
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