When God Redraws the Map
Well, butter my biscuits cause company’s plum arrived! So, swing that ol’ iron gate open, friend. You come right on up here to this ol’ front porch before the kettle gits to singin’ itself hoarse and that lil’ ol’ blue jay up there in the pecan tree starts announcin’ everybody’s business. Settle into that ol’ comfy rocker right there. Most of us can make plans faster than a lil’ ol’ squirrel can hide an acorn, then act downright surprised when Tuesday takes a left turn that we never intended to put on the calendar.
Proverbs 16:9 reminds us, “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” Plannin’ sho’-nuff’ ain’t wrong. Pretendin’ we control tomorrow is where our boots get real stuck deep in the mud. James 4:13–15 warns against boastin’ about tomorrow and teaches us to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”
Jonah sho’-nuff’ learned that lesson the soggy way. God said Nineveh. Jonah chose Tarshish. That was not a minor detour. That was like bein’ told to drive east to Tennessee and decidin’ California looked more convenient. Before long, Jonah was overboard and inside a great big ol’ fish, probably wishin’ he’d taken the Lord’s original travel arrangements seriously. See Jonah 1:1–17.
Here’s where it gets a whole lot deeper. Sometimes God changes our plans because we’re plum headed the wrong direction. Other times He redirects perfectly reasonable plans because He downright sees what we can’t. Jeremiah 10:23 says, “LORD, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps.” That don’t make us puppets. It downright makes us pilgrims learnin’ to trust the One that sees the whole road.
Father, I make plans so easily and surrender them so slowly. Teach me to hold tomorrow with open hands. Redirect me when necessary, steady me when I’m confused, and help me trust Your wisdom more than my timetable. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Now, flip me some more of them flapjacks, friend. Then you can tuck your plans right up under your arm and head on out from here before that ol’ rooster over there starts actin’ like he plum runs the whole county. Make your list, set your goals, and pack your lunch, but leave God some room to move the signposts. An ol’ crooked road can still lead exactly where He intends. And if your day takes a turn strange enough to make a lil’ ol’ raccoon drop its cornbread, remember this: the Lord hasn’t lost the map.
With joy,
Gwen
