Photo Courtesy: Glenn Carstens - Peters on Unsplash
A brilliant man by the name of Stephen Hawking once said, “Remember to look up the stars and not down at your feet.” What could he possibly mean by that? Well, we have just entered into a new year. Some of us have chosen to live by that saying. Even though, their lives have been challenged incessantly, they still chose to be hopeful. They continue to make plans of what they’re going to do to be able to achieve the goals that they have set in preparation for the future. They choose to stay positive despite of all the negative things that are happening around us. But in contrary, there are some who have chosen not to make plans at all due to all the uncertainties caused by the global pandemic. They have fears that all their plans will be put to waste and will just fail. They’re becoming hopeless and would just want to stop from trying.
Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” This verse confidently implies that we all have nothing to fear if we will just place our full trust in God. What is there to be frightened of when we have the brightest future in His presence? We just have to trust His ways— He who has the knowledge over all things, He who knows everything about our future and who has full control over it, and He who has the ultimate power, above everything.
Most of us if not everyone, I believe, is aware of this. But there are times that we ignore this truth. We sometimes become impatient that we choose to do things our ways. We even choose to do things by our own schedule without consulting God with our plans. We organize things by our own, thinking it’s the best. But Proverbs 14:12 warned us about this saying, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” Proverbs 16:25 even supported this by reiterating the same point. Thus, it’s really dangerous to make plans and decisions without taking counsel from God. We have to constantly be reminded that we are limited in thoughts and capabilities that we need God to lead us at all times. In the first place, what creation is more knowledgeable than its Creator? There’s none! The latter will always be superior in all ways. Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.”
But there are times God allows the unpleasant events in our life to remind us that this place is imperfect and this is not the home God has prepared for those who are obedient to His will. 1 Peter 2:11 emphasizes that we are just foreigners or temporary residents of this world we’re living. Heaven is our real home. God doesn’t want us to get so cozy here on earth that we won’t anymore desire to be with Him in heaven. That’s why this verse tells us not to give in to our fleshly desires which keep on bugging us to distract us from getting the blessings that God has prepared for us. So never be dismayed when things don’t go nicely as planned. God has a promise in Romans 8:28 that all things are working together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.
JESUS loves His children beyond everything. He does not want us to feel that we are alone especially at times when it seems everything is going against us. Sometimes we do have doubts about God’s plans for us. We have lots of questions in mind that we need immediate answers. But God seems so quiet and distant. And we grow impatient that we make decisions carelessly. A single wrong choice leads to more wrong choices which make us suffer a number of consequences. And we blame God for all that’s happening. With this, we failed God’s test.
We may have failed for several times in the past but that gives us no reason to give up. Remember that in our troubled times, worries, failures, and anxieties, God will be always be standing behind us. It is His promise to never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). That’s why He’s asking us to keep our lives free from the love of money and be contented with what we have. Never let the absence of physical wealth pull us down. Life is more than material possessions. The true meaning of life is actually living in the presence of God. And with His absence, there’s no life.
God’s plans for us will always be the best. No one of sound mind will ever dare to disagree. His plans will always be better compared to ours. Psalms 18:30 and 2 Samuel 22:31 both mention that God’s ways are perfect, all His promises are proven true, and that He is a shield to all those who put their trust in Him. If you’re trusting Him, expect great things to happen. We have the brightest future if we stay in His care. We all know that He’s a wonder working God. He has proven it for so many times. His expertise is on accomplishing extraordinary things that will definitely leave us in awe. ‘Impossible’ is not in His dictionary. If there’s one thing He cannot do, it is for Him to lie (Hebrews 6:18). Whatever He says, He will certainly do it!
