What’s the future? What are your plans? As we begin to move into the graduation season, when people wrap up high school, celebrate the achievements for college or maybe complete a certification training, questions about their plans are common. In thinking about plans and the future, I’m also reminded about a class I took on the History of the Soviet Union. I’ll never forget reading about their various Five Year Economic Plans and how these didn’t often get fully accomplished, even though the official government achievements were routinely publicized and celebrated. Government narratives can be interesting.
On a personal level, when I was younger, I wasn’t really into planning. I preferred a more organic approach for the future, and I liked being relaxed and having freedoms and choices. I didn’t want to get backed into a corner with plans. During this season in my life, I remember hearing the adage, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” I didn’t really like that when I first heard it because it felt constrictive to my less-disciplined self. Over time, however, I came to appreciate some of the wisdom that this adage expresses.
At the same time, the famous Scottish poet, Robert Burns makes the observation that, “the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” I can heartily agree with Mr. Burns, because I’ve made innumerable plans and schemes that haven’t really gone according to my best efforts and structured schematics.
I’m very clear that it is wisdom to plan and do one’s best to be prepared for the future. My struggle with this premise is that it can be difficult to plan for every contingency, to be ready for the unexpected and to have everything fall into the neat and tidy steps that we plan to support the future for which we’re aiming.
With all of this, I find lots of comfort with the verse we read in Jeremiah 29:11 which says, “For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.” In concert with the verse in Jeremiah, I’m reminded what Jesus says about our priorities and concerns about our future. In Matthew 6:33-34 we read, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
So, while it’s both wise and important to plan for the future, let’s be wholly committed to leaning in and trusting God with our future. Let’s be certain to pray and include God in our plans. Most of all, let’s continually remind ourselves of Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
It helps me to remember to keep a lose hold on plans, but a firm grip on God!
