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Romans 1:13 – Making Plans
“If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans” (Woody Allen). “Man makes plans . . . and God laughs” (Michael Chabon). “We plan, God laughs” (old Yiddish proverb). Even the Bible asserts such similar belief – Psalm 33:10 HCSB – He thwarts the plans of the peoples.
That such is said shows that people know God is involved in our daily lives. Knowledge leads to actions or inaction. How do we react to such awareness?
If said with disdain and disrespect, such thoughts border on blasphemy. If said with a knowing smile, such thoughts exhibit feelings of God’s patriarchal protection. If said with sadness, such thoughts simply show confusion and frustration.
But beyond feelings there is the practical day to day reaction. Do we stop making plans? Is making plans stepping into God’s realm of authority? Do we “let go and let God?” Such sounds so spiritual, but is that theologically truthful?
Paul lived such a realization of God “interjecting” – Acts 16:7 HCSB When they came to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.
Paul lived realizing sometimes it was Satan “interfering” – 1 Thessalonians 2:18 NASB (18) For we wanted to come to you–I, Paul, more than once–and yet Satan hindered us.
Not always knowing if it is God protecting or Satan impeding, what do we do? Not knowing that what we plan might not come about, what should we do? What if God forbids, or Satan blocks the way? We do the same thing that Paul did – “often I have planned to come to you (and have been prevented so far) (Romans 1:13 – NASB).
Keep on planning, but pray for God to be involved, and watch for Satan to interfere. God might smile, but Satan smirks and sneers.
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