Get Out Of The Way!

'For I know what I have planned for you,’ says the Lord. ‘I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope.'

Jeremiah 29:11 

I hate rush hour traffic.  Don't judge! I am openly declaring a weakness of mine.  I ALWAYS manage to get stuck behind that one person who is bound and determined to keep 20 car lengths between them and the next car, and absolutely refuse to move over.  I daydream sometimes about being able to move them along or move them over whether they like it or not.  I just don't get it.  They don't seem to understand or care that there are places I need to be and behind them is NOT on my list of destinations. No matter how much I may rant, no matter how much I cuss (in my mind mostly), no matter what I do.....they ain't movin'.

To say I was frustrated and angry would have been a complete understatement.  I was stuck in a "ministry" job, hating every breath of life, having to smile and be nice to the "church folk" who seemed to take great pleasure in stabbing me in the back at every turn.  I felt as though I had more holes in my back than a spaghetti strainer.  I prayed and prayed and prayed that God would remember His promise that He has plans for me that will prosper me, not harm me, yet I felt like harm was being heaped on my with a backhoe.

Then...a very wise, Yoda-esque friend, who had patiently listened to be rant and spew, told me that when I was through trying to do God's job he would like to give me something to think about.  At first, I was offended that this person thought I was trying to do God's job.  Finally, I agreed to hear him out.  He said, "See those plants over there?  Go make them bloom."  I admit I thought he had been drinking, and told him that was not possible.  He said, "YOU can't do God's job because it's God's job and not yours.  God DOES have plans for you that will prosper you and not harm you.  Getting you there is HIS job, not yours!  YOUR job is to keep breathing, keep going, and keep alert for the door to open."

I went home even more frustrated, adding to that was the fact that I got stuck behind another "go nowhere" drivers.  Come to think of it, I could not even see the head of anyone driving...just some hands on the steering wheel.  But as I tossed and turned later on trying to make sense of it all, it dawned on me.  I really had been trying to push God out of the way and show Him how my life was supposed to go (according to MY plan).  

I got up, fixed some coffee, and started talking to God at 1:39am.  That conversation is still going on, but my perspective has changed from wanting to be completely in charge, to only having sporadic moments where I think I know better.  And have no fear, God is very quick to remind me that I need to remember who really is in control.  Good news is I'm still learning.  Best news is God really does have plans to prosper us and not harm us, because I have the best job because I got out of God's way.

How about you?