Jeremiah 29:11 is a Bible verse that has brought great comfort to many people in times of distress. It says:
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV)
This is great to know that God has a future in mind for us. At the same time this idea can be incredibly debilitating and paralyzing. Let me explain what I mean. Life is filled with big decisions.
- Where do I go to school?
- Where do I work?
- Who do I marry?
- Where do I live?
- Should I buy this house?
- What church do I join?
- Should I go on this mission trip?
When we happen to come upon one of these big decisions there can be a lot of anxiety. We want to make sure and get that decision right. Then there is the added pressure of God’s plan. I want to make sure and do what he wants me to do. I don’t want to make a mistake, marry the wrong person, take the wrong job, and miss out on my destiny.
So we pray. We ask God to show us what he wants us to do. We ask him to give us a sign. A rainbow in the sky, or a bolt of lightning would be great. We ask for some coincidental happening to show us what God wants us to do. It can be frustrating when we want to make the right decision, but God does not makes it clear.
Here is a radical thought: maybe God is not as concerned about those big decisions as you might think. What if it was not important to God who you married, but that whoever you did marry you were faithful and that you sought to honor him with your marriage? What if it wasn’t important to God where you worked or where you went to school, but in those places you lived with integrity as his representative? What if God didn’t care so much the specific house you bought, but that with whatever house you bought, it enabled you to live within your means so you could live generously towards others?
What if the daily obedience was more important than getting the major decisions in life right? Maybe those major decisions in life would be made easier if we lived in obedience. Take for example the question of “who should I marry?” Before you get to that question, consider how you are dating. Are you dating in such a way that will lead you to find the right person? If you were to describe the perfect person to marry, are you living in a way that such a person would want to marry you? In all this, it is not so much about where we are going. It is more about who we are becoming.
I live in New Jersey on the East Coast of the United States. If I wanted to travel to California on the West Coast I would need to travel west. There are many roads that lead west. Not all roads lead west, but there are many roads that do lead west. I could take any number of different roads. Some roads might be faster. Other roads might be more scenic. But realize that there is not only one road that leads to the destination. The important thing is that I travel west.
It’s a lot like that with God. Yes, he has a plan in mind for us. There is a destination. But don’t get stuck with the mindset that there is only one path and that with one wrong turn you are going to miss out on the destination. I’m not saying all roads lead to the same place. But even if you make a wrong turn, the good news is that you can still get back on the road.
God gives us wisdom. He gives us guidance. But there is not a predetermined plan that we need to fear “getting wrong.” He does not have a exacting plan that you need to perfectly execute. But our calling is to live faithful and obedient in whatever decisions we make. Don’t overlook the little everyday decisions which when added up are much more signficant than the few big decisions.
Questions for Reflection
- How do you approach big decisions? With fear? Anxiety? Anticipation? Sense of adventure?
- Do you think God has every step of your life determined? Why or why not?
- Does God desire faithfulness over making the right decision?
- Share your comments.
Diane says
Thank you. You freed me up with this. I have tried to always honor God in my life’s, work, in relationships, etc. But I have made some bad turns and right now I am a little stuck. I don’t date but I would like to but previous errors have turned me off. At 50 I would love to be married but I won’t settle and am not desperate but it would be nice to have a God fearing man by my side. I am a seminarian moving in the right direction in ministry and loving it. I am also disabled since February 2012 and this chronic pain has changed me. Everyday is a challenge but I do my best to use even my suffering to glorify God although it does keep me inside a lot. Thank you for this insightful observation. I hear the chains falling.
andi says
Of course God doesn’t have every step of our lives pre-determined! What about Free Will? But what I love about God is that he has made provision for us, no matter what choice we make! That doesn’t mean we won’t make some bad choices, or that we won’t have to deal with the consequences when we do. But Pastor, you are so right when you say if we live our lives by His tenants for us we will make far better decisions in the first place. God tells us – All thing work together for the good of them that love Him and follow his commandments. So, no matter which fork in the road we might choose, good times or bad times, as long as we are holding to his commandments, we have the assurance of his blessings, grace and favor on our lives.
Carol Ward says
I always wanted to be a nurse, but in spite of getting in to a good nursing school, I quit and got married. After 54 years of marriage and 2 grown children I still have been haunted by the feeling that I failed to follow God’s plan for my life. Thank you for this writing. I know this is something that I have to finally forgive myself for. Your words are helpful. Think I’d better print this one out.
Tammy says
Exactly! I’ve always believed this but didnt know exactly how to say it completely. Thank you for the rest of the words!