Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21
During a visit to Paris, as I walk to a nearby museum, I round a curve and come face-to-face with armed police officers, complete with rifles, helmets, and bulletproof vests and shields. A throng of people are walking towards me on the cordoned-off street. A loudspeaker is blaring. My thoughts inevitably go to possible violence and snipers. I quicken my pace along the sidewalk and cut over to a side street, hoping I can enter the museum through its vast, fence-enclosed gardens. My plan is thwarted by a locked gate. I continue walking around the gardens to the front of the palace which houses the museum. While this plan sounds good, unbeknownst to me, the protest march starts in front of the palace! Getting through the mob congregating here looks impossible. Disheartened, I turn around. Stopping midway around the gardens, I distractedly listen to a band playing near the back gate. My day is not going according to plan and I am tired from yesterday’s travel.
Standing near the black wrought-iron fence surrounding the gardens, I notice a young man taking photos through the fence. As I follow his line of sight, I realize that with the gardens closed, there are no people to photobomb any shots. The colorful autumn leaves are swirling in the light breeze with the palace as a backdrop. I quickly remove my camera from its bag and aim the lens through the bars in the fence.
While I realize I am not in control of this Parisian protest and the way it blocked my plans, I am in control of my response. I don’t handle the interruption of my plans very well by getting angry and frustrated. Seeing another photographer taking photos makes me pause to think about how I can make the best of this situation. Following his example, at least I have a positive takeaway to a frustrating situation where God is in control and I am not. Perhaps God is trying to teach me something!
But perhaps I still need more lessons in the God-is-in-control class because back at home, my I’m-not-in-control-but-God-is theme continues. Because of high winds, power lines are knocked down and I am literally in the dark for several days. Worrying about getting to a museum pales in comparison to camping out in your own house! Because of those same high winds, fear and worry over neighboring wildfires keep me in a state of anxiety as I wonder if I might need to evacuate. I spend a frantic couple of hours packing in the event I need to leave. The peace of God eludes me as I allow fear to paralyze me.
As our key verse says, I can make my plans, but I’m not ultimately in control. But God is and His plans will succeed. His will cannot be thwarted. When we try to control our circumstances, we’ll pay in the currency of anxiety, fear, and disappointment. When we align our will with His, we will reap the rewards of peace, comfort, and contentment.
Trust is the opposite of fear. When I forget that God is sovereign and I am not, I fail to trust God and the fact that He alone is in control of the adversity. Then fear, with its siblings of worry, doubt, and panic, take up residence in my heart and mind.
Losing our perspective is all too common in both small issues and life-threatening ones, in dealing with difficult circumstances and with difficult people. In times when the landscape of world events, political posturing, natural disasters, climate change, and mass shootings looks frightening and disheartening, keeping our focus on the Lord is more important than ever. Looking up to God while living through adverse circumstances, regardless of how minor or overwhelming the problem is, is vital to our spiritual and emotional health. Reading verses on God’s sovereignty and peace (like Isaiah 41:10*) can remind us that He is in control and He will take care of us. Rather than allowing anxiety and fear to distract and paralyze us, focus on Jesus and the peace He gives (John 14:27*).
When we can’t control our circumstances, we can trust the God who can. We can also seek to control our own responses. Being intentional about focusing on God, praying for His wisdom, perspective, and peace and reading His Word, keeps anxiety and fear at bay. And as I discover, the theme of peace is surely better than the theme of spinning out of control.
Lord, in a time when planet Earth seems to be spinning out of control, when my personal circumstances are not according to my plans, I trust in Your sovereignty and that Your good plan will prevail. Align my will with Yours. Keep my eyes focused upward to You. Fill my mind and my heart with Your peace and comfort. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
*Isaiah 41:10: "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
* John 14:27: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
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Text and photographs copyright © 2019 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of Luxembourg Gardens, Paris.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
Luxembourg Palace and Gardens, Paris:
During a visit to Paris, as I walk to a nearby museum, I round a curve and come face-to-face with armed police officers, complete with rifles, helmets, and bulletproof vests and shields. A throng of people are walking towards me on the cordoned-off street. A loudspeaker is blaring. My thoughts inevitably go to possible violence and snipers. I quicken my pace along the sidewalk and cut over to a side street, hoping I can enter the museum through its vast, fence-enclosed gardens. My plan is thwarted by a locked gate. I continue walking around the gardens to the front of the palace which houses the museum. While this plan sounds good, unbeknownst to me, the protest march starts in front of the palace! Getting through the mob congregating here looks impossible. Disheartened, I turn around. Stopping midway around the gardens, I distractedly listen to a band playing near the back gate. My day is not going according to plan and I am tired from yesterday’s travel.
Standing near the black wrought-iron fence surrounding the gardens, I notice a young man taking photos through the fence. As I follow his line of sight, I realize that with the gardens closed, there are no people to photobomb any shots. The colorful autumn leaves are swirling in the light breeze with the palace as a backdrop. I quickly remove my camera from its bag and aim the lens through the bars in the fence.
While I realize I am not in control of this Parisian protest and the way it blocked my plans, I am in control of my response. I don’t handle the interruption of my plans very well by getting angry and frustrated. Seeing another photographer taking photos makes me pause to think about how I can make the best of this situation. Following his example, at least I have a positive takeaway to a frustrating situation where God is in control and I am not. Perhaps God is trying to teach me something!
But perhaps I still need more lessons in the God-is-in-control class because back at home, my I’m-not-in-control-but-God-is theme continues. Because of high winds, power lines are knocked down and I am literally in the dark for several days. Worrying about getting to a museum pales in comparison to camping out in your own house! Because of those same high winds, fear and worry over neighboring wildfires keep me in a state of anxiety as I wonder if I might need to evacuate. I spend a frantic couple of hours packing in the event I need to leave. The peace of God eludes me as I allow fear to paralyze me.
As our key verse says, I can make my plans, but I’m not ultimately in control. But God is and His plans will succeed. His will cannot be thwarted. When we try to control our circumstances, we’ll pay in the currency of anxiety, fear, and disappointment. When we align our will with His, we will reap the rewards of peace, comfort, and contentment.
Trust is the opposite of fear. When I forget that God is sovereign and I am not, I fail to trust God and the fact that He alone is in control of the adversity. Then fear, with its siblings of worry, doubt, and panic, take up residence in my heart and mind.
Losing our perspective is all too common in both small issues and life-threatening ones, in dealing with difficult circumstances and with difficult people. In times when the landscape of world events, political posturing, natural disasters, climate change, and mass shootings looks frightening and disheartening, keeping our focus on the Lord is more important than ever. Looking up to God while living through adverse circumstances, regardless of how minor or overwhelming the problem is, is vital to our spiritual and emotional health. Reading verses on God’s sovereignty and peace (like Isaiah 41:10*) can remind us that He is in control and He will take care of us. Rather than allowing anxiety and fear to distract and paralyze us, focus on Jesus and the peace He gives (John 14:27*).
When we can’t control our circumstances, we can trust the God who can. We can also seek to control our own responses. Being intentional about focusing on God, praying for His wisdom, perspective, and peace and reading His Word, keeps anxiety and fear at bay. And as I discover, the theme of peace is surely better than the theme of spinning out of control.
Lord, in a time when planet Earth seems to be spinning out of control, when my personal circumstances are not according to my plans, I trust in Your sovereignty and that Your good plan will prevail. Align my will with Yours. Keep my eyes focused upward to You. Fill my mind and my heart with Your peace and comfort. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
*Isaiah 41:10: "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
* John 14:27: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
Want to subscribe to future posts? Click here.
Text and photographs copyright © 2019 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of Luxembourg Gardens, Paris.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
Luxembourg Palace and Gardens, Paris:
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