Yes, I am a planner addict. I love planners. I love calendars. I love lists. Scheduling is one of my favorite past times and checking off boxes is one of my greatest joys. Ok, that might be slightly over-dramatic but, nevertheless, I think it's safe to say I am a planner-holic. Maybe you can relate? God blesses some people with great OCD, organizational, and Type A qualities that make them excellent planners! Us planners have a knack for meeting deadlines, staying on top of things, and managing our time. "Go with the flow" and "spontaneous" just aren't in our vocabulary. .....And that's okay!
But, like many good gifts, planner-holic tendencies come with temptations. I am often tempted to make an idol out of my agenda. Because I love to see my plans come to completion down to the very last detail, I can be a bit of a control freak. God constantly reminds me through failed plans or disappointed expectations that He is the one in control.
So, here are a few gentle reminders for all the Erin Condren owners, color coordinators, and second-hand watchers. Look up from your calendar, stop scrutinizing over today's every hour, quit kicking yourself over yesterday's unchecked boxes, and take a look at these comforting truths.
God's Purpose Trumps Our Plans
The summer after high school, I participated in a discipleship program through a christian camp ministry. I, along with 5 other girls were led by an older woman we affectionately referred to as "mom" for 5 (very long) weeks. One of the lessons the program taught us "daughters" is the importance of trust and flexibility i.e. "going with the flow." Yikes.
I've gotta be honest, the phrase "just go with the flow" (especially directed at me) makes me cringe! But nothing was worse than the phrase that our "mom" recited without hesitation after one of us "daughters" asked any question related to our schedule. Whether we asked "So What's next?".... "What's on the agenda this week?"...or "What will we do there?", our leader, without fail, would always answer:
"We'll See What the Lord Has!"
Looking back, I realize how transforming that phrase really is. Life is unpredictable. We like to believe we can control the future by writing an event in our planner with permanent ink. Only later we scribble the word "cancelled" or "rescheduled" over it.
The truth is, thoroughly planning for the future doesn't give us more power over our circumstances. The theme verse for that summer quickly became Proverbs 16:9. We even designed t-shirts with this reference on it!
The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. Proverbs 16:9At first, these verses stepped on my toes a bit. How dare God overlook my well thought out schedule! How dare he ignore my list! I have things to do and people to see! But after meditating on these verses, I sighed in relief.
God's purpose will stand. I don't have to fear disappointments, unchecked boxes, change of plans, or cancelled events because God is in control. I can wear the world like a "loose garment" as Emily Freeman puts it in her book Simply Tuesday. I am not controlled by my "To Dos" or "It's Due".
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” James 4
That is why we can confidently say "We'll see what the Lord has!" Another words, God is in control. I may not know what's coming. I may not like what happens. But no matter what, His purpose is what's best for me. I don't want to establish my own steps or I will surely fall. When we surrender our plans and expectations to the Lord, He will establish our plans in ways we cannot possibly imagine.
Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. Proverbs 16:3
Only God Can Check Our Boxes.
When it comes to planning, I can't rest until I get ____ done or ____ event is complete just the way I imagine. I love things I can control.
Planning puts a band-aid on anxiety but God's peace heals it.
We have God-given tasks and daily assignments. We have events to prepare for and sticky notes for important reminders. Even time with the Lord takes advanced planning and preparation. But, in the midst of our planning, it is important to take our lists lightly. Keep in mind that God may interrupt your life. When we plan with His sovereignty in mind, we can better welcome God's sometimes extreme interruptions with joy and trust instead of kicks and screams.
Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. Proverbs 19:21
God Cares for Everyone's Plan.
I set goals, dates, and times it is easy for me to get a sense of "self-entitlement." I forget that the world does not revolve around me and my plans. Rarely do I leave "white space" in my packed agenda for other people. I cringe if someone else's issues or circumstances intrude my plans.
“My agenda isn't the most important one and, many times, may not be important at all. Knowing this is a great first step toward cultivating a lightness of heart.” Emily Freeman
God's interruptions may not be directly related to my own needs. God has a purpose for every single one of His children. While establishing our own steps, God cares for every person's steps involved.
While schedules, dates, events, deadlines, and check boxes will always be apart of our life, they do not have to control our life. Take full advantage of God's promise that His ways are higher (Is. 55:9), His timing is perfect (Ecc. 3:11), and His highly organized plan can never be thwarted (Job 42:2).
“The deepest need of my soul isn't a personal organizer or an empty inbox. The deepest need of my soul is Christ.”
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