There’s an episode of Seinfeld in which the character George Costanza claims the upcoming summer will be the best one ever. He claims it will be “the summer of George”. Events occur thereafter and ensure his summer will not go as planned. At the end of the episode, we hear him bemoan, “It was supposed to be the summer of George.”
Don’t you love it when plans go awry?
I didn’t think so.
The truth is, we can plan to go here or do that and it may happen the way we envision it. But often, the plans can also go by the wayside as a new set of plans is unveiled.
It’s how we respond to that unveiling that reveals our heart’s condition as it relates to God’s control over our lives.
I’ve been tracking through Proverbs lately and I’ve come across one proverb that seems to come to mind no matter the circumstance.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” – Proverbs 3:5-6
That is where our own understanding is challenged. That is the opportunity to acknowledge God.
We are future-seeking creatures. We want to know now what will happen then. We relish the familiar past and the navigable present while seeking out the unfamiliar to conquer it too. But how do we know our paths are straight?
What are you planning? For some in my circles, they are planning a wedding, to leave on a vacation, or to change or acquire a new job.
All of those things take some foresight and estimating. All assume some understanding that certain conditions will remain the same and that each will bring about something positive to those involved.
All of them require trust. Trust that the other person will show up on the wedding day. Trust that the beach will not be hurricane-damaged. Trust that a new job or opportunity will actually be there.
The odds seem to offer an advantage here.
But what if God has other plans?
Remember God is Infinite
Isaiah 40:28 reads, “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.”
God’s understanding is way beyond our comprehension. Certainly he is not caught off guard by your circumstances.
Remember We Depend on God
In John 15:5, Jesus tells us, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
Jesus, being the very Son of God, is the key to accomplishing anything good.
When plans fail, we can always continue to abide in Christ and expect the best.
Remember to Love God
Romans 8:28 reminds us, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
When we honor God, we are telling him we love Him. We are also able to have confidence that His understanding is working for our benefit as it relates to his purpose.
Remember Our Purpose
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” – 1 Corinthians 10:23
Giving glory to God is the reason we are here. If we continue to see life through the lens of what brings God the greatest glory, we can see the plans we make in a different perspective, always subservient to the plans God has for us.
Reminding ourselves of our limited perspective, our dependence on God, our opportunity to love him our reason for being here on Earth help us navigate when the Summer of George is rightfully declared the Summer of God.
