Storm Warning: Eye on the Sky — Wednesday
Proverbs 19:21
We humans keep brainstorming options and plans, but God's purpose prevails. (MSG)
I don’t know about you, but I often catch myself thinking about the worst-case scenario. From things like not getting a table at the restaurant I want to eat at, to getting stranded on the highway in the middle of the night with no cell service, I try to think of every problem and every solution I can find. The moment I sense a bad thing might happen to me, anxiety takes the wheel, and my thoughts get out of control. Even though I know these things are not likely to happen, I still dwell on them.
On the opposite side of this, sometimes I catch myself daydreaming about the best-case scenario. I spend time trying to plan out the perfect scenario where everything goes right and everyone is happy. I do this to distract myself from the worst-case scenario, even though the perfect plan is also not likely to happen.
I chose the Message translation of our verse today because it’s short, sweet, and to the point. It’s a quick reminder that no matter how much of the day I spend dreaming about all the ways something could play out, God will have His way. Whether I am submitting to His purpose or not, it will prevail. When we take up God’s invitation into life with Him, we get to see the beauty and the joy of His purpose for our lives. When we are stuck in our own heads playing pretend, we are blind to what the Lord is doing in the world.
Surrendering our future to God can be a scary thing. The unknown can bring a lot of anxiety, and our instinct is to try and figure everything out as fast as we can. What would happen if we lived our lives knowing that God’s purpose would prevail? Would we stop experiencing so much anxiety? Would we experience more joy in the day-to-day? We can rest knowing that the future is in God’s hands, and that is the best-case scenario.
Wednesday’s Reflection
Is there something in the future that is causing you anxiety? Ask the Father to show you how to surrender that thing to Him and to teach you to trust that His way is better.