When God changes our plans…
Have you ever worked really hard on a project that you thought was part of God’s purpose for you, only to have everything fall apart due to circumstances beyond your control?
Our church sponsors a dinner theater every Christmas. We feed the audience and follow the meal with a play. There’s no charge for the event–it’s our gift to the community. The three performances are a lot of work for our small congregation–inviting people and keeping a record of reservations, setting up our fellowship hall to feed up to 140 people each performance, preparing and serving the food, cleaning up after the event and doing it all again the second and third time.
Then there’s the play–I write the script in the summer based on who is willing to be in the play (or who reluctantly agrees after I grovel and beg). The play always includes the Christmas story, set within a parallel plot. Practice begins toward the end of November. Our choir participates and rehearses weekly to prepare. We work on a set and prepare costumes.
It’s a LOT of work!
The second week-end in December is show time! This is our tenth year.
But, this year we had an unwanted surprise…
SNOW!
We don’t get a lot of snow in the South so it’s a BIG deal when it happens. I worked in the kitchen most of the day on Friday finishing preparation for our meal. The forecasters said we would have light snow with no accumulation.
We had accumulation…
At 3:00 p.m. we were forced to call off the event. We refrigerated the food in preparation for the next evening’s dinner meal.
More SNOW! It snowed more than 24 hours–practically unheard of in the South.
I LOVE snow, but not this week-end. Please, NOT this week-end.
I was a very unhappy camper. Months of preparation for the play. Weeks of rehearsal. Several days of intense labor in the kitchen. So much time and effort—wasted.
Two cancelled performances.
Some food could be frozen. Some can be given away. Some will the thrown away.
I’ve experienced a gamut of emotions–acute disappointment, frustration, anger, self-pity (why is this happening?) I thought, “I’m trying to do God’s work–feed our community, have a play honoring the birth of our Savior and offer a time of Christian fellowship. Why is all of our work going to waste because of SNOW?”
It’s not as if this was a “real” tragedy. I understand that. Surely, I should just “go with the flow.” And, for the most part, I did. People complimented me on my “cool” handling of the situation.
Hmmmmmm… they didn’t see the steam coming out of my ears!
As I examined my feelings, I had to admit to God that I wasn’t happy that “my” plans for the play were spoiled, but that perhaps…
Just maybe…
It was because of…
Pride.
Ouch! That five letter word. The Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (logos.com) defines pride in two ways:
Positive pride is “a reasonable or justifiable self-respect.” An example is 2 Cor. 7:4:
I have spoken to you with great frankness; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.
Negative pride is “improper and excessive self-esteem, known as conceit or arrogance.”
It’s painful to admit–that I was frustrated because I didn’t want MY work to be wasted.
MY work? I’m supposed to be working for the Lord. Many other people were also working hard on this project. I certainly have no excuse for being so personally offended. But, thankfully, God is forgiving. He didn’t hold my frustration against me. His grace surrounded me and brought peace. Half a dozen other glitches surfaced during our one and only performance yesterday, but we all smiled and appreciated that the weather finally cooperated, our audience attended and the show went on.
As I think back and process the week-end, I’ve learned several things:
- No matter how well organized we are or detailed our plans, God may have another plan.
- If God changes our plan, He will get us through it–with Grace!
- God is with us–and He also sends others to give us strength and courage during the trials.
- God is Good–All the time!
Can you add to the list? How has God helped you in adapting to unexpected change or overcoming pride?
‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future.'” Jeremiah 29:11
I led canoe trips for a Bible camp two summers. Our pet phrase became, “You know what they say on the river… oh well!” (Visualize the shrug. Hear the resignation in our voices.) The unexpected happened ALL THE TIME and there was absolutely nothing we could do to fix it so many miles from civilization. God gave me a crash course in letting go of my plans and expectations. It was one of the hardest/best times of my life. Thank you for your honesty and encouragement!
Wonderful example. My family used to go on a lot of canoe trips (we haven’t been in several years), but I know exactly what you mean. The unexpected happened a lot and we had to learn to “let it go!” I miss those trips down the river. Thanks for stopping by my blog. Wishing you a wonderful Christmas and a blessed 2018.
“If God changes our plans, He will get us through it–with grace!”
Yes, oh yes. I’m still learning to hold my plans loosely in my hands and let Him do what He will. I too battle pride even when I think I’ve just defeated it.
Thanks for sharing your heart with us here.
Thanks for stopping by my blog, Carole. I’m so grateful for your encouragement. Pride is such a tenacious and powerful action–it just keeps coming back after we think we’ve overcome it! I took some much needed time away from my computer and took a short trip with hubby. It was great to get away for a few days. Wishing you a blessed New year and much joy in writing!