We completed a great but also tiring semester at work. With this weekend being a holiday, I was ready to take some time. Originally, I had plans to ride my motorcycle to see some family. It would have been the longest I have ridden.
Well, I check forecasts when I ride. Rain, rain, rain, rain, and more rain.
Tony Soprano said it best, “What are you going to do?”
We definitely need rain, and fortunately in our area, there were no flash floods or anything damaging. But, for me, riding hours in the rain, volatile rain at that, did not seem appealing. I am a firm believer in “riding my ride.” That just means I don’t want to be pressured to ride; I want to ride when I feel good about it, when I am not too tired, when I’m not stressed.
But, seriously, what do you do when you have plans, but they don’t work out the way you want?
I can get angry and respond accordingly. Will that change the situation?
No.
I can whine, pout, and complain. Will that make a difference?
No.
There have been times when I may have been in a rush for whatever reason. It always seems that those are the times in which a tractor, slow-moving street machine, or traffic congestion creates different plans for me.
When I keep a cooler head, I do my best to recognize this is very likely God protecting me from something.
Just recently, I left for work. Morning traffic in Knoxville can be interesting to say the least. Frequently, I experience traffic coming from a different town over the hill. Vehicles often speed hurriedly down the hill back-to-back-to-back. It’s challenging sometimes even at 6:30 in the morning to find an opening. Typically, I just wait it out. Cars rushed down the hill, and I found an opening and took it, only to come to a quick halt, bumper to bumper red brake lights shining. I tried to sort whether I needed to plan for an alternative route or stay the course. As I approached the first traffic light on my route, I saw a terrible traffic accident. A truck had somehow overturned and landed on a hill apparently traveling the other direction. Two fire trucks hurriedly approached as I went through the next light.
If I had my way and got onto my route sooner, who knows what would have happened?
I encourage folks to have Scriptures in mind for a variety of situations. Mainly, for me, it gives me something to hold onto that ground me and keeps me Savior-focused rather than self-focused. One of my favorites in situations like these is Proverbs 16:9 (NASB): “The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.”
I am not in control.
And I’m okay with that.
#plans #Lord #Jesus #Creator #control #changes #trip #Bible #Scripture
dr. jason newcomb 
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