the pride in "my plan"

(Source)

Pregnancy is one of the fragile times of life where we learn the balance between planning and trusting. You're responsible for caring for yourself and your baby to the best of your ability, however, unforeseen and unplanned things can happen that are completely out of our control causing a breakdown or sometimes aggressive change to our plan. And ultimately push us to trust in the Lord for His outcome. (We realize we are not really in control, and never have been)

There are many times in life that require this same approach. Any season that requires life planning;  college and career choices, engagement, marriage, family planning, job choosing, financial planning, even caring for our families in meals we make and the education we provide to our children, etc. There are times where we are required to research and make a responsible plan for whatever God has called us to do...however, He uses that plan almost immediately for His sovereign design of your life. And in ways you cannot plan for.

You think you're going shopping at the store, only to run into someone who is in need of encouragement. You plan to seek a career in a specific field, only to find that the first interest led you to an even greater career you love. You plan to marry the man of your dreams by a certain age, only to find yourself still waiting to meet him three years after your planned wedding. You plan to have two or three children by the time you're thirty, only to find yourself unable to carry a baby of your own and you only have one year left. You plan to have plenty of money by saving and investing for your future only to find yourself in the middle of an unforeseen circumstance that has drained your accounts...the list goes on and can have both positive and seemingly negative outcomes.

While there is nothing wrong with planning, there sure is a lot of pride that can be wrapped up in each part of our plan.

God requires us to plan, to be wise, to consider different outcomes, to work hard, and to pray and trust Him to lead us. However, God also requires flexibility and humility. He doesn't just require it, He forces it in the most loving way in order to sanctify us; to make us holy.

Between prenatals, appointments, lists, to-dos, plans for parenting, birthing/breastfeeding classes, and all the shopping and projects we can keep ourselves busy with, how much of what we do is really about us and our perfect plan for our lives?
Instead of pregnancy, let's think more generally. What about buying a house, starting a business, or even just eating healthier and working out. Nothing is "wrong" with any of these plans, but we must ask ourselves, is what we're doing about living a life fully trusting the Lord and living in worship of Him? AND giving Him the glory of the outcome? OR is it about us, our pride, and how responsible we are in all the things we do? How awesome our outcome is because we are awesome?

Recently, I've watched a lot of young people start to get wrapped up in their plans. Financial, family planning, marriage, parenting, education, and even their physical health. If there is a best way to do something, they know it and put it out for the world to see.

THIS NEW THING will save you, your family, your marriage, your life, your attitude, etc. Buy this product, read this book, do this project, eat this food, be this kind of mom, be this kind of wife, put your money here, plan, plan plan and then look at how awesome you are. What a false message of pride. And completely contrary to the gospel.

If there is nothing good in us, then how does something good come out of us? By the grace of God. By His gifting and purpose. By His work in us.

It is by the mercy of God alone that anyone has anything good in their life. You can plan, work hard, marry someone amazing, raise your children right, and still your life turns out to be a giant, complicated mess that challenges you in ways that keep you looking at the cross. This is His divine plan. But it's not simple, clean, or easy.
It's hard, it hurts at times, and it challenges you in ways to keep you growing.
Be careful how much faith you put in yourself. In your plan.

And for those of you learning this lesson right now, this lesson of pain in times where you thought you were prepared, remember God is working in this pain. He is divinely working on you and your heart and will work in others too (hopefully) with time.

We are called to boast in what the Lord has done, not in our worldly efforts (no matter how fruitful they might seem). I'm happy for you if your life has been a smooth ride, especially if you've been working at being responsible and making decisions wisely. But being wise isn't the goal, being successful isn't the goal.

Glorifying Him in all seasons is the goal. Using His wisdom and letting Him guide you doesn't mean your life will work out the way you've planned. Or that the outcome will be pleasant. In truth, it means you will end up right where He wants you...which is very comforting when life gets difficult because you know He put you there.

Colossians 3:12-19
So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; bearing with one another and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works so that no one may boast.

1 John 2:15-17
Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father in not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.