A few Sundays ago I had someone call me in tears because they had made a poor choice. They were in fight or flight stage - the first 15 minutes I was just trying to get them to breathe. It was not pretty and I felt bad for her, but I also knew she chose this and there would be consequences. It reminded me of the verse Romans 7:15, "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do."
It is God's will for us to be obedient to Him. He wants to bless us. But He will always let us choose, regardless of the harm this will cause us or others. The choice for us is simple: His righteousness or our sinful nature.
God gives us a game plan, but not a blueprint. A blueprint is a specific detailed plan with a defined outcome.There is no room for choice because if you diverge from the blueprint you can't build what was designed.
A game plan is a general approach or strategy that has some flexibility that will work with the general plan. The game plan can always change. My friend could have changed her decision and made a better choice. I did share with her - you generally make good choices. BUT you are ALWAYS redeemable. I started to think about my plan - sometimes I want God to lay out the plans He has for me and then I will approve it. Why? Because I am a sinner and I see through a darkened glass. I cannot see the entire plan clearly, and that is why I need Jesus and have to trust His plan for me instead of running ahead on my own. Sometimes I make a plan, fall in love with the plan, but God has a bigger plan and He usually has some sweet plays in the game plan!
My plan needs me to be flexible as we are not always tracking God. So I may need to take a time out and get back on track!
God lets us go through valleys. It may not mean we made a bad choice. I know I have asked before, "Why am I here?" or "Why is this happening to me?" when I should really be looking for Jesus in the valley.
Psalm 23 reminds us He is always with us. We are redeemable.
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul. He guides along the right paths for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
King David wrote this when he was in a valley; he was walking in doom and gloom. No matter my friend's circumstance, as she walked through her valley I wanted her to remember in order for there to be a shadow, there also must be a light. And that light is Jesus, the great light of the world! Jesus walks in the valley with us. We are not alone.
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