There is that old saying, “We plan…God laughs.” Although I have never been a huge fan of this statement because I don’t think it’s true. As I reflect on how 2024 has gone, I can appreciate the heart of what this phrase means as this year has not turned out in any way as I expected to start the year. But it is not just this year, I have found it to happen over and over again throughout my life. When I was a child, my desire was to be a musician, then the president of the United States, then an Air Force pilot, before “settling” on a music education degree in college (because I thought it was the safe and easy route…I was incorrect, and I have complete respect for educators more than ever before!). Did God laugh that I had my life planned and life did not go as I expected? No, since God had something greater in store for me by calling me into the ministry.
When I started this year, I had planned and truly expected to be assigned to Yorba Linda UMC for another year involved in the life of that community, but that was not to be the case. Instead, though I was caught off guard and sad to be reassigned, I was blessed to be received by you all with open arms and open hearts. Little did I know that four weeks later, I would be resigning my position as a pastor within the UMC. In all these things, I don’t believe God laughs because what I planned did not go as I hoped, but I do believe, God is still God, God is still in control and God will be glorified when we are faithful to follow His plan for our life.
This is where I find the phrase to be meaningful, because though we plan, sometimes our plans are wrong because we do things in our time or based on our understanding. Sometimes our plans are misguided, though we know God tells us something, once we heard, we stop listening for more details and forge ahead. There are also times when due to outside circumstances and situations, plans change but God is still God over our lives, and He can be found in those times. It reminds me of Genesis 50:19-21, when Joseph reflected on his life and all that did not go to plan, (He said, you intended to harm me, but God used for it for good.). I believe there is an enemy opposed to things of God and will do everything to pull us away from God’s desire for us by tempting us to go at life alone. However, in those times, we need seek His presence to see what He is up to in order to sing His praises. When we do, I believe God smiles greatly upon us and in that laughs joyously because we will give Him praise in all situations and every season.
How often have you made plans that didn’t quite go as planned. Maybe it is in your personal life? Perhaps it is for this church? My hope and prayer for each of you and the Fount is that you continue to seek God’s face because he will make His plan abundantly clear to you. I pray that you continue to walk by faith through Jesus knowing that God will make His plans known. As you do, I hope that you, too, will experience a joyous laughter in the Lord like you might not have experienced in a while.
God bless you,
