JUNE 7, 2012
Uncontrollable Unexpected
Read: James 4:13-17
Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do
this or that.” —James 4:15
Life is full of surprises—some of which take life in unwelcome directions.
I still remember the shockwave that hit our family several decades ago
when my father lost his job through no fault of his own. With a house
full of kids to feed, it was a jarring blow. But as certainly as Dad’s job
loss was beyond his control and unexpected, he still knew he could
trust God for his future.
As Jesus’ followers, we must recognize that there are things in life that
are the “uncontrollable unexpected,” as I call them. To help us in those moments, James 4:13-15 offers this wisdom: “Come now, you who say,
‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year
there, buy and sell, and make a profit’; whereas you do not know what
will happen tomorrow. . . . Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills,
we shall live and do this or that.’ ” The people to whom James was
writing were making plans while excluding God’s prerogative to direct
their lives.
Is it wrong to plan for the future? Of course not. It is unwise, however,
to forget that God may allow some “uncontrollable unexpected” events
as He sees fit. Ultimately, all that happens is for the best—even when
it’s hard to see. We must trust Him and His plans for our future.
I know who holds the future,
And I know who holds my hand;
With God things don’t just happen—
Everything by Him is planned. —A. Smith
We may not know what the future holds, but we can trust the One who holds the future.
Source: Our Daily Bread 2012
