We're obsessed with lists. Without them how would we know what not
to say to a Euro backpacker, who the
sexiest man alive is, or the best bars in
DC? We wouldn't! Early this morning I was awake in bed anxiously wanting to
make lists: next month's expenses, work and non-work to dos, what I want to
accomplish today and after. I was stressing out about it. I've found lists very
helpful in opening up mind space - once I write something down I can forget
about it until I have time to come back to it on paper.
After calming myself down, I realized that I've allowed
list-making to become a crutch in certain areas of my life. I haven't allowed God
to operate on His timing and in His process because I want my life to be
linear, logical and efficient. I want to accomplish specific things in a specific
order. I want my future husband to be a list. I want my future kids to be a
list and my career to be a list…a list of lists. And as I write this I'm
already making a list of the lists I don't want to be bound by this year! Ha. I
guess what I'm trying to get at is being more open and okay with God's plan
even though (especially when) His plan seems chaotic and doesn't come with an
organized list.
One theme I've noticed in the past few weeks in the movies
and shows I've watched or the books I've read is that you don't know what's
going on the in background. I've recently caught myself praying, "God, I
know you're working but I don't know what you're up to. Just let me know what
you're doing so I can trust you." Ridiculous, I know.
During the eight days I was in Charlotte for Christmas I saw
three movies in theaters - The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, the Hobbit the
Desolation of Smaug and The Hunger Games Catching Fire. The last two in particular
echoed this same idea that the things we don't know about can be more important
than the things we are aware of. In the Hobbit there are several scenes where
there seems to be no escape, no plan and no way out…and then Gandalf. In the third
Quarter Quell of the Hunger Games a new game maker becomes the game changer and
upends the status quo of power. It isn't until the very end that Katniss learns
of all the moving parts that had been working - all designed to protect and
promote her.
In both movies I placed myself in the storyline. How many
times have I been aiming toward a goal I know and believe God set before me and
become discouraged because I can't see how I'm going to get there? How often do
I lose heart, lose sight and lose faith in the prize because one thing seems
out of place or out of order? Scripture
encourages us that there is a season and a time for everything. There is a set period with a beginning and an end for
everything we face. There's a storyline. There's no promise of it making sense
the entire time or that it's linear or logical. But everything belongs somewhere.
Paul
reminded the church in Rome that the future glory was set in God's plan. He
writes with assurance, "we know
that for those who love God all things
work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."
I know I'm called for His purpose and in case you're wondering, YOU ARE CALLED.
Paul makes no caveats, no exceptions (no lists). He says he knows. He says all things. I believe him and I want to prove it in 2014.
On this, the last day of 2013, I encourage you to remind
yourself of the goals in your life. What do you feel called to? What are the
passions of your heart? When life seems to take you away from those goals down
a crazy path, encourage yourself in God's plan and His heart to see you do
well. Take in the challenges of 2014 with full faith that there is indeed a
plan. Seek after His heart for you in prayer and know that you are not alone. Even
if you can't make a list, know that there is a plan. If it helps, imagine God
as Liam Neeson in the A-Team.
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