Since it's a very small minority that will ever win a lottery, most people trust in Plan B. The plan (at least the unspoken expectation in America) seems to be... go to college, get a good job, climb the corporate ladder and put away a nest egg for retirement. That actually sounds pretty responsible! I find myself pushing my own kids in that direction. But why do we put so much hope in that plan? Are we all supposed to live according to the same cookie cutter plan? Is this the best plan for everyone? Is that plan really so foolproof? I mean, can't we suddenly lose our jobs when the economy takes a turn and find ourselves out of work for so long that we blow through our savings just to hold on to the house? Or maybe we save up for retirement and then our spouse or child becomes very ill and the hospital bills eat up our entire savings?
The problem is when we put our hope in a plan or a system rather than in our Father who created us and who sustains us. We were never created to live by our own plans, but to be led by God's Spirit. His Spirit nudges each individual heart down very different paths? God's plan for us is so much better than any plan we could ever have for ourselves. According to His plan, we never have to worry about our needs being met. We are simply to look to Him, follow where He leads, do what He puts before us, and trust Him for our provision. He may lead one person toward a higher education and a meaningful career. He may place a desire on their hearts to set aside a savings account (they may have in mind that they are setting that money aside for a specific purpose, but later find themselves led to use it for something they never considered). He may ask another to mow a lawn today and paint a house tomorrow to put food on the table. As long as we truly trust God and live in dependence on Him for everything, doing what He asks of us, we will never need to worry if or wonder how our needs will be met, we'll just know that God will provide a way.
Mathew 6 says:
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Even though God tells us that if we follow Him, He'll take care of us, we insist on living independently. We feel a sense of control as we try to orchestrate and manipulate our circumstances, other people, and even God to get what we want. We prefer to live by sight rather than by faith. Living by sight gives us an illusion of safety and security. We continue to trust our own plans and systems rather than trusting in God. How freeing it would be if only we would live the way we were created to, trusting our Father to provide for us. Living within the means He provides and being content with whatever we're given; following wherever He leads and doing whatever He asks of us.
I recently read about God leading His people through the wilderness with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. He provided manna from heaven for them to eat and water from rocks to quench their thirst. Their clothes and shoes never wore out. God was faithful to them and provided for their every need. The bible also compares God to a shepherd who leads his sheep to the green pastures and the still waters. He wants the best for His sheep. If they choose to wander off, they are in danger because they are not equipped to fend for themselves, but if they stay close to Him, He is able meet their needs and keep them safe.
Putting our hope in or getting our security from any source other than God is a foolish and stressful way to live. When I look back and see the incredible ways God has always provided for my family and me, it seems ridiculous that I would ever worry or doubt His provision. As I grow in trusting my Father, I begin to experience the childlike freedom and joy of not having to know how it will all work out, it's enough to know that I'm in His safe and loving hands.
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