My wife Pam and I had a friend who battled cancer off and on for years, eventually losing that battle. His wife is also a dear friend. She and her husband had five young children. She is since remarried and is wonderfully happy. During the time of her husband's cancer treatment, she wrote me an email. Here’s part of what she wrote: “My desire is to get my house in order...so that I may volunteer a few hours of my time each week at the Pregnancy Center. People look at me like I’m wasting my time, even considering it...I’m already in over my head…but I hold this desire very loosely in my hand, knowing that I don’t have to make it possible. It will happen when God wants it to, so long as I’m willing and do my part, right?” Wow! What a powerful statement: “I don’t have to make it possible.” Sometimes we seem to spend nearly all of our time trying to make things possible! Can you identify with that? Do you have a lot to do? Is it too much? Do you want to do more but can’t seem to find the time? Many of us feel that way! Today, let’s stop and take a breath as we listen to these words from a very busy man: the apostle Paul:
God has now revealed to us his mysterious plan regarding Christ, a plan to fulfill his own good pleasure. And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan. (Ephesians 1:9-11)
Another version of today's passage says, “Then when the time is right, God will do all that he has planned, and Christ will bring together everything in heaven and on earth. God always does what he plans.” Can you receive this comforting, soul-satisfying word from God? When the time is right, God always does what He plans. When I first came to Christ, a popular way to share the Gospel began like this: “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.” God does have a wonderful plan for you and for me and for the whole world, and he set his plan into motion before the dawn of creation. Today’s passage reminds us that He’s going to work out all things according to His plan. Yet another translation says that God works all things “after the counsel of His own will.” I like that! God isn’t working things out after the counsel of your will or my will. It isn’t our will that’s important; it’s His will that matters.
If God has called us to do something, He will make sure it gets done. You and I don’t have to try to make it possible. God is in charge. He always works out everything according to His plan...and that's very Good News.
“When the bottom falls out and disappointments come, you will learn what you believe, what you love, and what you treasure.”