What Will Happen Tomorrow

If our schedule had gone as planned, I would be in Cambodia rather than Anchorage right now. Several Rabbit Creek Church members planned to travel with me to Cambodia to work alongside Pastor Sony who leads Rabbit Creek's Cambodia Campus - Way of Hope.

Through this experience of circumstances beyond our control, we have been reminded of the truth of the words written by James.

James 4:13-15 (NIV)
13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”

Back up and read verse 15 again. You and I will do well in life if we live in light of those condition words - "If it is the Lord's will."

While, due to the negative impact of sin, many things happen in this world that displease God, He remains sovereign. Not all that happens to us is by His design. (After all, Eve and Adam were not following God's guidance when they tasted the fruit.) However, God limits the amount of havoc that sin and sin's father wreaks. While Satan is prince (John 13:31), Jesus is King. As King, Jesus enjoys blessing His subjects (servants, followers, children). His blessings are always perfect, timely, and handpicked. You and I cannot thwart God's will, but we can miss out on the blessings when we fail to follow.

God extends grace and allows us to live with the gift of freedom. That does not mean that we are in charge. He - not we - controls tomorrow. When you plan, do so prayerfully with recognition that God's plans have the final word.

Proverbs 19:21 (NIV)
Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
    but it is the LORD’S purpose that prevails.

By the way, even though plans changed and we are not in Cambodia this week, God's work prevails. We are in Cambodia in spirit as we pray for Pastor Sony and his ministry and as we send funds. While unable to meet in person due to governmental health-based restrictions, we know that so many families in Cambodia are watching Sony preach and teach each week online.

Our plans did not happen. God's plans are happening, and the results are amazing.

#ordinarylives

---