When Plans Go Awry Series

This time has disrupted most –if not all – of our plans. The seniors had plans of finishing their senior year and graduating with celebrations, now what? Many had plans of getting married with parties and celebrations, now what? Many had plans of having jobs, income, and insurance, but now what? Some had plans and dreams of staying in their homes and raising their kids there, but now what?

What this time has underscored is the reality that even with dreams and plans, these are never realized without the help, intervention, and sometimes the allowance of God. We are subject to the will of God always – even when we resist Him.

• Pr 19:21 ¶ Many plans are in a man’s heart, But the counsel of the LORD will stand.

• God’s purpose for my life is not independent of God’s purpose for man as a whole. I am not that important. His purpose will be accomplished. Sometimes that eternal purpose can interfere with my personal plans. I believe that is what we are experiencing right now. Is this God’s judgment on the world? I don’t know, but I do know that God has a Will and a Purpose that will be accomplished during this pandemic.

• Pr 20:24 Man’s steps are ordained by the LORD, How then can man understand his way?

• God gives us the opportunities in life, to live and flourish, to make plans, but again it can become confusing. Which way am I supposed to go? How do I plan when I don’t know the way?

• Jeremiah 10:23-24 I know, O LORD, that a man’s way is not in himself, Nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps. 24 Correct me, O LORD, but with justice; Not with Your anger, or You will bring me to nothing.

• Jeremiah was facing a personal crisis in the face of a national crisis. He knew the hearts of Israel were turned against God and he is admitting the need for all men to understand that we needed God. So he prays for mercy from God, knowing that God has the ability and the authority to reduce his life to nothing.

• But that is sometimes where we find ourselves. At the bottom, no place to go, no relief in sight.

• We feel that God has allowed us to be reduced to nothing, with no purpose, without hope.

• When our plans for life become interrupted or worse yet, cancelled, we become blinded by frustration. Pain-filled frustration – for we have suffered loss. Loss of anything – you fill in the blanks.

• And many times we cry out from this place of torment, this place of loss, “Why?” What is the point of my pain?

• Oft times the frustration can build within us because those closest to us don’t seem to understand our pain. We feel judged, almost condemned for our weakness, we feel we’re fighting but they don’t agree, some might even tell you to have more faith.

• There is a narrative in scripture of a faithful man, a man who had suffered extreme loss.

• Note Job 12:5 "He who is at ease holds calamity in contempt, As prepared for those whose feet slip.

• When your friends don’t understand loss, sometimes they automatically assume it is the judgement of God because of lack of faith. Yet you know you have tried to live right, you know you have prayed, you know you have repented, and yet you have lost.

• I know where you are crying out from, I know the frustration. In no way do I want to down-play your pain – be it physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual in nature.

• Pain is real and each individual has a different tolerance threshold.

• In this message I want to extend the realization of hope, and the realization of continued purpose in your life.

• I want to propose to you this simple truth: The Best Possible Answer for your life today is Jesus.

• Sounds cliché, you already know that right, -- but let me remind you

1) Jesus understands your pain.

• A long time ago -- @ 700 years before Jesus was born – there was a prophet in Israel. We know him as Isaiah. He was a prominent prophet, making multiple predictions at to the coming of this Messiah, and the establishment of His kingdom.

• A lot of our hymns and carols we sing at Christmas use the phraseology of Isaiah. Prince of Peace, Almighty God, Wonderful, Counselor. Isaiah 7:14 tells us that Jesus would be known as Immanuel -- God is with us.

• Luke 4:17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: 18 "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD." 20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."