What’s going to happen?

Scriptures: “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.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? Your are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’ As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good and doesn’t’ do it, sins.” (James 4:13-17)

One day, as I was going home from work, the traffic was really bad. All of a sudden, I noticed that the car in front of mine slowed down and stopped. I guess there was something wrong with its brake light. So, I wasn’t able to notice its slowing down. But, fortunately, without burning the rubber, I was able to bring the car to a full stop without hitting it. Then, I heard a squeaking sound behind me. I suppose the driver in the care behind was not paying attention and had to slam on the brake, too. But, just like me, he was lucky enough to stop without any accident.

Just as I was turning my focus back to the traffic before me, I heard another squeaking sound behind me. When I looked into the rear mirror, I saw a big SUV about 5 or 6 cars behind me was swirling out onto the shoulder to avoid hitting the vehicle in front of him. He too made it. A few seconds later, a pickup, about 2 or 3 cars behind the SUV, also slammed on the brake and swirled out onto the shoulder. But this guy wasn’t so lucky. He couldn’t bring his vehicle to a complete stop before hitting the SUV. We heard a big bang and saw the pieces flying all over the shoulder. It was terrible!

I don’t think any of us had expected something like that would happen that day when we left home that morning. But it did, unfortunately. Life is full of surprises and not of all them is pleasant, just as someone once said, “The only thing constant in life is change.” How do we deal with these unexpected and unwelcome surprises?

James reminded us that, apart from our planning for future, God is still in control of our lives. As much as we would want to have our lives going certain way, God will intervene from time to time to keep us on the path He has laid down for us. This intervention may comes in the form of a change in weather, a phone call from our boss, a shift in priority at work, the loss of a job, or even the illness of a loved one.

Each time this happens, we would be disturbed and would try to see if we can steer the course back. We would make phone calls, complain, or worry to the point where we could not enjoy the lives any more. We would be trapped in our own dreams, frames that restricted our ability to see outside of ourselves, let alone to see what God has in store for us.

But James wanted us to remember that God is always a part of our lives, the vital part. God is good, so are His plans for us. He said, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11) That’s our Lord. He is always on the lookout for us. He has prepared plans that will prosper us and not harm us.

As we move into this new year, this passage from James once again reminds me that I need to include God’s perspective and plans in my plan and resolutions. I am convinced that, if I can incorporate His plans in my plan, not only will I be able to minimize the suffering from the unexpected surprises, but also will I be able to excel in my relationship with Him and to live a life more pleasing to Him!

Prayer Requests:
For those involved in traffic accidents

Prayer:
Our loving Father, thank You for always keeping our best interest in mind. Thank You for always looking out for us, in good season or bad. Please help keep our perspective clear at all times that You are in control of all events and incidences in our lives, big and small and help us to live out a lifestyle consistent with this conviction that displays joy and hope all the time. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen!