Planning, Purpose, and Passion: Balancing planning and following God’s calling.

I am a planner. I spend a great deal of time thinking through details and planning what needs to be done. It is good to plan and be prepared before starting a project or anything new. Planning helps to be prepared for potential challenges, make sure we have the budget and time to be able to complete a project (not that a lack of either has stopped me from starting a project before), and helps me get organized and know what needs to be done and what materials or people I need to work with. Sometimes I think I spend more time planning and thinking about the projects than I do actually working on the project. Maybe it is because the time I spend planning makes me feel productive and is much easier than actually doing the work.

I don’t know about you, but no matter how much I plan, it does not take long for me to stray from the plans on most every project, be it an art project, remodel project, vacation, or even a blog post. As I get started, either something unexpected comes up and changes my plans, or I see a better way to finish the project (and many times I should have just stuck to the plans). Plans change. Lives change. When I look at all the plans and thoughts I have had for my life, some I have done, some that never came to be, I sometimes stop to think “what if…” It is easy to look back and see all the things we wish we had done differently. Where would we be now? Who would we be now? But I also wonder if it would really be any better.

Too often I get caught up in pursuing my plans. I pray that God will join me in the things I want to do. That he will bless me with the talent and resources to accomplish my goals. But maybe I’m missing something even bigger. I want God to come in and work where I want him to work, instead of looking where God is working and seeing where I can serve him. God gives each of us talents and abilities and puts us in the right place to build his kingdom. But far too often I set my goals and make my plans to pursue the things I want and to build my kingdom.

James 4:17 says “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.” This verse just makes sense. If I see someone who needs help, and don’t help them, it is sin for me, right? But, I have been struggling with this verse. It seemed to be in a very odd place. Verse 13-16 of James 4 talks about making plans and setting goals.

 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”  Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”  As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

James 4: 13-17

That last sentence, verse 17, just seemed out of place to me. But then I started thinking about all the opportunities I have missed to serve the kingdom of God because I was so focused on pursuing my dreams… my kingdom, and it started to fit. I believe it is o.k. to have fun and pursue the things that we are passionate about. God puts those passions, or desires, in our heart. Those are the very gifts and talents that we need to use, both for enjoyment and to serve the kingdom of God. I have hobbies that are relaxing and, at least for the moment, I have no idea how those would build the kingdom of God. But maybe those hobbies are designed just for my own enjoyment, to clear my head and help me unwind from the business of life. But when we pursue those passions at the expense of our families and friends, and fail to serve God’s people because we are too busy building our own desires, that is when we get into trouble.

It is sometimes hard to change plans. Especially on big projects or on something that I am very passionate about. Sometimes I get a little stubborn and try to push through to meet a goal no matter what. Sometimes that is good, and pushing through the challenges helps me to grow, learn, and become a better person. But sometimes, I try to push through those challenges only to realize that God was steering me in a different direction. I get stubborn and I want to do what I want to do. I begin to get frustrated and upset when things don’t go the way I wanted them to. I had become focused on building my kingdom, rather than His.

So… make plans. Prepare. Get out the spreadsheets, drawings, graphs, papers, or whatever you use to make plans. Get the bucket lists out and the project list going. Plan, prepare, and begin the work. There is a lot of work to be done (at least at my house). But, above all, spend some time in prayer, and looking around you. Look to see where God is working and look for ways you can serve Him in building His kingdom. There is a lot of work to be done for the kingdom of God.

Time for me to revise my to do list for the week. Yay!! More planning!
Have a great week.