Planner Syndrome

I’m a planner. I like planning out my day, week, month, and year. Each plan is a little different and has alternative plans based on what could or couldn’t happens. Even with all my efforts, I can’t control anything in the future but nevertheless I continue to plan. Maybe you’re like me and like to plan. It gives you security and the feeling of preparedness and control. There’s not wrong with planning UNLESS…we boast in the surety of our plans.

Solomon teachs us not to brag about tomorrow because we simply don’t know what day will bring. So, what does he mean – don’t boast in tomorrow? I’m not proud of tomorrow and I definitely don’t go around bragging on it so what is he even trying to tell us??

It is part of our nature to be plan and think about tomorrow. Most of us do it to some degree BUT what Solomon is saying is not to become overly confident in our own plans. Don’t think your plans are set it stone. Don’t think your plans have covered everything. Don’t think your plans can in fact control the future. Why? Solomon says the answer is simple – we just don’t know what tomorrow holds.

If we put to much faith and confidence in our own plans for tomorrow, what happens to us when they go sideways? We often don’t handle well. Anger. Stress. Melt downs. Chaos. You know it – our reactions to a tomorrow that doesn’t fit into our plans.

Then, how do we stop those reactions? We recognize that we don’t really control the future. We acknowledge our plans are always tentative. We try to accept and live with what as Jesus tells us – not to worry because each day as enough problems of it’s own.

So, if we don’t put our confidence in our plans because tomorrow is uncertain and our plans always have to change, what should we boast in?

The answer is simple. God. God does not change. We don’t control time – God does. No matter what tomorrow holds for us – God will be there for us. He will take care of us. God will never allow us to face something in the future he has not equipped us to face.

Tomorrow does not answer to us or our plans but it does answer to God.

So, make your plans and future goals (God wants to you live your life wisely and circumspectly) but don’t put your absolute trust and faith in those plans for tomorrow. Instead, put your faith and trust in the One who controls time and will be there for you no matter what the future holds.

Some trust in their plans, others trust in the Jehovah. Which one will you be?