We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. (Proverbs 16:9, NLT)
Oh boy! Another club championship train wreck. I mean, another club championship story for you.
I was cruising along in difficult conditions on day one until I arrived at the par-3 12th hole, 115 yards—the hole I have birdied far more than any other at my club.
I missed the green. No problem, I thought. My perfect lie in the bunker was 10 yards from the pin. How I walked off with an eight still makes me chuckle.
In the second round, I birdied the same hole from 160 yards. Take that, golf!
In the last round, it played 140 yards, and I hit it OB on my second shot. I carded a smooth six.
For those keeping score at home, I played my favorite hole in 7-over. With a birdie!
Can we talk about round two real quick? On the back nine, I had a stretch of 2-4-2-7-2. After three-putting from four feet for a triple, I jarred my approach on 16 for eagle. Say what?
As one who typically doesn’t like hearing details of a round, I promise there’s a point, and it has to do with today’s verse.
My game is fairly steady, so my objective going into the tourney was a heavy dose of pars with several bogeys and a handful of birdies. I figured a few over should have me in the mix.
An eagle, two birdies, 28 pars, 17 bogeys, three doubles, two triples, and the dreaded quintuple was not what I had drawn up, let alone finishing 37 strokes behind the winner!
I had my strategy, but very little went according to plan. Isn’t that life, though?
How we respond to setbacks can be a good barometer of our faith. Are we devising our plan or trusting God’s?
I’ve heard it said, “I want God’s will as long as it matches what I want.” I wish I could say I’ve never had that thought; however, as I have matured in my faith, I have come to trust the promise: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV).
Believing this makes it easier to follow the instruction Paul gave to those in Thessalonica: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
We are not to give thanks for all circumstances, but rather in them, because “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
A business failure. A relationship gone bad. A poor diagnosis. Do we think, ‘Why me’ or ‘How can God use this for his glory’?
I’m grateful my identity is now in Christ, so my self-worth no longer fluctuates with my performance, and I can chuckle at my failings on the course.
I’m also happy I’m learning to align my will with God’s. I petition the Lord each Sunday, ‘Thy will be done.’ The question I have to remind myself is…do I mean it?
How about you?
Prayer: Lord, help us renew our minds to test and approve your will – your good, pleasing, and perfect will.