James 4:13-17 says, “Pay attention to this! You’re saying, “Today or tomorrow we will go into some city, stay there a year, conduct business, and make money.” 14 You don’t know what will happen tomorrow. What is life? You are a mist that is seen for a moment and then disappears. 15 Instead, you should say, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and carry out our plans.” 16 However, you brag because you’re arrogant. All such bragging is evil. 17 Whoever knows what is right but doesn’t do it is sinning.”
Have you ever been at a place in your life where you feel you have done all you can to achieve a certain thing, only to be left empty handed and wondering what you’ve done wrong? The error in our ways is when, in the midst of our careful planning, we fail to wait on confirmation from the Lord. You can plan every detail and consider every possible opportunity and every potential issue, but if you have not given reverence to the control God has over your life, you are essentially exhibiting defiance and arrogance – bragging as though you know better for yourself than He does. When we do this, God naturally allows us to see exactly what we can move without Him: what is possible for man. The things only made possible through God are left at a stand-still as He waits on you to let go and give control back to Him.
Many times, our error also comes in listening too much to those around us. We let go of the plans God would have honored because others cause us to believe it wasn’t “meant to be” since we’ve not seen it come to pass in a time considered acceptable to them. Everyone is not always going to be in your corner; when you look around and you are alone, don’t lose confidence! Everyone is not going to support your vision; when you claim victory then find yourself receiving warnings of too-high hopes, do not be discouraged! Just because you have been working, praying, and waiting without seeing God move doesn’t mean that it’s time to give up. You serve a God that does not recognize the existence of too-high hopes! You serve a God that is not moved by the presence of a thousand in your entourage. You serve a God who is God all by Himself and whose power is not limited by the belief of those around you. His power in your life is limited only by the faith YOU have in His ability. Even then, it is not His power over your situation that is limited – it is your ability to receive the things made possible by His power over your situation that is limited.
Next time you find yourself making plans without aligning them with the Purpose God has for you, be wise enough to put your goals aside in order to allow God to orchestrate the completion of His plan in a manner that will bring Him glory through the blessings you receive. Next time you find yourself growing impatient and restless waiting on the Lord to move on your behalf or you are tempted to give up, remember that He is an on-time God and will never be made to be a liar. Most of the failures in life are due to simply giving up, not realizing how close you are to the end.
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