Not My Plan

As we grow in age and wisdom, we are taught to plan.  "Where do you see yourself in 5 years, 10 years?" We grow up planning (or should be) our next move; summer vacation, work goals, school, meal menus. This is something that we as rational humans made in the image of a God (who is a God of order) should be doing! During deputation I have the same mentality of planning. I plan meetings out into the coming year, plan for travels and housing as well as what I will be speaking on when at a church. We set goals for number of meetings in a year, how much support we hope to have by the end of the year, the list could go on. This is good.

No matter how much or how detailed I plan, I must constantly remind myself that I am not ultimately in control of my life and plans. Proverbs 16:9 reminds us of this, "A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps."

In my mind, 2020 is supposed to be the year where God finishes out our support to 100% so we can move to Syracuse by the end of the year and begin the ministry He is calling us to be a part of. We sent out letters to pastors and asked God's people to pray that He would fill our support need this year. That was our plan. As of now, it is still our goal. We know God can do it should He choose to do so.

As we all know, 2020 is not a normal year. COVID-19 grew from a news headline that we watched in China to a world-wide pandemic that has                                                                                                                                                         
impacted all of our lives in ways that we could have never imagined. "Stay at home"orders have been given for most, stores closed, churches not able to have actual meeting times and many are now offering live stream services that are good but not the same as being with our brothers and sisters in Christ for fellowship and worship. Life for many of us seems to have been turned upside down.

As for deputation, new meetings are hard to come by if pastors can be reached at all. Planned meetings are being canceled with the goal in mind of rescheduling for later this year. No travel, no deputation ministry to speak of. This was not in my plan but as Proverbs 16:9 reminds us, they are the steps God has planned out. I have to be still and know that He is God and has planned my steps. They don't look like what I thought they should but God has a perfect plan set up for our family.

This is a good reminder for all of us. Even as I apply it to deputation,we can all apply it to whatever plans we may have laid before COVID-19. Though we plan, we must remember that God is in full control and has planned our steps in the best way possible. We have to trust that what He has planned for us is far better for our future, even if that plan does not include moving to Syracuse, NY in 2020!