God is in Control

[Blessed is the one] whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on His law day and night. Psalm 1:2

I make my plans for my day,
What I want to do at home or away.
But sometimes my plans go askew,
And I'm not in control.

I panic or stew or get upset,
Breaking out in a sweat;
But then I to turn to God, who, 
Even so, is in control.

When I meditate day and night,
On God’s Word, the Living Light,
I receive His peace.
God is in control.

When I delight in the law of God,
He brings me joy, I give Him laud;
His love will never cease.
God is in control.

When I seek His guidance through the day,
I hear the words He has to say;
All concerns I can release,
Because God is in control.

I thrive on order. I like to have a plan, whether it’s for the day, the week, the month or the year, it gives me a sense of direction. I used to have this motto in my classroom: Plan your work. Work your plan. I would direct my students in how to make a plan for projects to make it easier to complete. I still make out spreadsheets and lists for projects now that I’m retired. But, I’ve learned through the years, that sometimes Plan A becomes Plan B, C, or even D! We don’t always have control over our best laid plans and need to adapt. How we react to those kinks in our plans affects us emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

Like many of you, I read a daily devotional. I meditate on the scripture, read the lesson, and ponder what God is speaking to me through that devotion. Meditating and memorizing scripture has been so beneficial. I have an arsenal of scriptures to pull from when in need. Even if I can’t remember the verse exactly, God hears me crying out to Him and floods me with His peace. I can think clearly and adapt to the change in plans. (Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7)

Although God encourages us to make plans, He wants us to make them wisely. (But the noble make noble plans, and by noble deeds they stand. Isaiah 32:8) It is important to plan prayerfully. Ask God to guide you in your decisions-big and small. When your mind is set on God and His laws, He directs your steps. (We should make plans—counting on God to direct us. Proverbs 16:9) We have peace going forward that God is leading us. If the plan doesn’t go quite the way we thought it would, we can trust that God is still in control. You may be surprised by the detour in your plans, but God isn’t. Find the joy in the change, instead of the frustration.

I remember one such detour on a road trip we took a few years ago. We were planning to stay with some friends for a few days, but they informed us the day before that they were ill. So, we decided to see what Nebraska had to offer since we had a couple days free. We decided to drive to Chimney Rock National Historic Site and Scotts Bluff National Monument, which wasn’t too far out of our way. Both places were stopping points for pioneers traveling to California. As a teacher, I taught about the pioneers’ travels to California, so the museums were fascinating to me! We also hiked up both the North and South Overlooks of Scotts Bluff. Beautiful panoramic views stretched before us when we reached the top! Although we missed seeing our friends, Plan B was a delightful detour in our plans! God was in control.

Hold on loosely to your plans. They’re more of a guide than a blueprint. I learned early on as a teacher that curriculum guides were called guides for a reason. They took you in the right direction, but there was room for adaptations according to the needs of your students. Our plans are guides, but God’s Word is the blueprint. Our plans can change, but His Word never does. It’s why we lean on scripture in times of uncertainty. (Your words are what sustain me; they are food to my hungry soul. They bring joy to my sorrowing heart and delight me. How proud I am to bear your name, O Lord. Jeremiah 15:16) No matter where you are or what is happening around you, know that God is your steady, unchanging rock. He is in control.

Dear God, direct me in the plans that I make every day. Help me trust You and have peace even when those plans take a detour. Even in those detours, I know You are in control! Amen