Not my will, but yours...

I often wonder what I would do if I knew exactly when I would die. For example, if I knew I only had 6 months to live, what would I do? I would probably not stress out about what is going to happen tomorrow. I wouldn’t let little things bother me. I would spend more time with people I care about. I would take more pride in my daily work. I would probably forgive people sooner and not hold grudges. I would better appreciate my education. I would let people know how important they are to me rather than trying to compete with them. There are a million other things I could think of.

The trouble is, we don’t know when our time on earth is up-- Only God knows that. And we have a problem with God having this control that we will never have. So our job is to find a balance. God leaves it up to us to set our priorities in a way that if we were to die tomorrow, we would have spent more of our time on the things that matter the most to each one of us.

Life is a roller coaster, regardless of how structured we attempt to make our lives. Sorry to burst the “Planner’s” bubble, but everything does not always go the way we expect it to. Yes, I agree in making plans and writing out my “to-do” list, however, it is important to remember that we do not have control over what happens in our lives. We have control over the choices we make and how we react to situations, but we cannot control the world around us. This is why it is so important to remember that God is with us every step of the way.

The reality is, we try to be God at times and map out our lives step-by-step. Then when God has other plans for us, we freak out and feel like failures because things did not go according to “Our” plan. I know I am guilty of this everyday. But it is a relief when I can just throw my hands in the air and say,

“Lord, I know you are in control. I am tired of trying to make sure everything goes as I have planned. You know what is best for me. If I was in control, my life would be a wreck.”

We are constantly looking to the future and trying to figure out what we will do next. It is good to prepare for the future, no doubt. But I hope we never get so caught up that we forget to enjoy what is sitting right in front of us. Let's spend our days expecting the best and preparing for the worst, not the opposite.

There are days I stress about a paper due or how I will cram everything I have to do in my schedule and still enjoy myself. But what happens when I lose a loved one? What happens when I experience real life? How will I handle that? Is that what it is going to take to really fall to my knees and surrender my life completely to Christ?

I need Jesus every step of the way. On the good days and the bad days. Time on earth is so short compared to eternity. What can I do today to spend my time more wisely, get real with God, and prepare for an uncertain future on earth that for sure ends in death? Thankfully, we have a savior who died for us so that earth is not the end, but the beginning. He has given us the gift of eternal life, a gift we take for granted every single day.

"Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truths and teach me, for you are God my Savior and my hope is in you all day long." - Psalms 25:4-5