God's in the Construction Business: He Will Shut Things Down!

"You can make many plans, but the LORD's purpose will prevail" [Proverbs 19:21 NLT] 

There are times in life when many of us have been anxious about our future and what is to come.  For some of us there is some impending date or an upcoming course of action that seems threatening to our current situation. 

 It may be the mother that is temporarily home on-leave to care for her newborn child, whom is very anxious as she looks forward to the date when she must return to work.  Perhaps during these weeks with her bundle of joy, she has found the benefits of being at home, more important to her than returning to the work force.   But her anxiety kicks in when she tries to fathom how their family can make it on one less salary, and she's getting slack from her better half to "get back to work". 

Or, let's consider the family who has suffered some financial blows that have affected their ability to keep up with their mortgage.  The bank has set a date of foreclosure and for an auction on their home; this date looms darkly over their heads, causing them great distress and worry.  What will happen?  Where will we go? 

Finally, let's think of the wife who is consumed with worry over the consideration that her husband may get the job that he has interviewed for, that will in turn require him to be on the road traveling most of the days of the week; thus, leaving her and their 3 children home alone.  Her mind labors day and night over the weight of holding down the home alone during these times, and the affects that the gaps of distance and time will have on her already strained marriage.

Unfortunately, almost all of us have held anxious thoughts about some future event; toiling over what we think is to come.  But often our toil is in vain, because our God, not man, is the one in charge and He will throw up a "road block" in a blink of an eye.

"There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD" [Proverbs 21:30]

"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" [Matthew 6: 27]

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." [Matthew 6:34]

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]

 And 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]

I know, first hand, about God’s expertise in the construction business of life.  Almost a year and a half ago, I thought that I was going to go back to work as a public school teacher; requiring my older girls to have to end homeschooling and go back into the school system, and leaving my younger sons to a daycare provider.  Though my heart of hearts did not feel at peace with going back out of the home to work, my mind and anxious thoughts about my family’s future told me it was the “right thing” to do.  I spent a whole long day revising a resume that was more than 6 years ancient.  And my entire evening was spent posting this resume to job sites and applying for teacher positions on-line.  But early that next morning, God allowed for a strange occurrence in my life to throw up that “road block” to my teaching career plans.  Long story short, I was arrested of a bizarre crime that I DID NOT commit (though arrested without cuffs and free of bail costs).  And temporarily having the charges for this crime on my record was not exactly what a school system would be looking for in hiring a new teacher.

Bottom-line:  I WAS ROAD-BLOCKED by GOD!

I hope that God will not have to go to such extreme measures (though God cushioned my experience all the way) to “road block” plans that you or someone else has made.  However, I’d rather him throw up whatever block is necessary to keep us from veering off the wrong road and thus, forfeiting our promise and perfect destiny.

As strange as my “road blocked” situation was, I learned a grand lesson in it that has helped my faith walk since then.  For the most part, I no longer worry or toil about dates and situations that threaten to come; even when they are right at the door step.  Joyfully, I have had first hand evidence of God’s ability to “road block”, just in the nick of time.  And not a moment of my worry would not have added to a single thing to it!

"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done." [Philippians 4:6 NLT]

"Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart." [Psalm 37:4]

Mad Luv~Teri