God, The Master Planner

In January 2023, our youth group began a chronological study of the Bible. After 13 months, with a side trip to Job to follow the Bible's timeline, we studied through Genesis 36. That dropped us on the doorstep of Joseph, a teenager no older than some of our youth. 

In a matter of weeks, we've talked about some of the major themes in Joseph's story: fratricide, passive parents, jealousy, anger, God's presence, the Master's plan for our lives, and resisting temptation. We've really been digging into the deep topics, getting away from the kindergarten and Hollywood versions of the story. These are the issues our teens are dealing with right this minute in their own lives, and we want to show them how the Bible is full of truths that apply to the here and now.

So I wasn't surprised when the Lord gave me a nugget for my own struggles smack dab in the middle of a lesson for teenagers. He's good like that.

Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither beearing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. Genesis 45:5-8

The question that was planted in my heart as we studied this chapter was, who am I to question God's perfect timing? He has my life planned out to the moment, all the ups and downs and ins and outs. He has designed every breath I take for His glory and my good. So who am I to fight against the pull of the Holy Spirit?

I don't have to know the plan to trust the Planner.

This is a hard one for me because I am a planner myself, just on a much smaller scale. I have notes and lists and notes about what's on the lists and lists detailing my notes. But my plans pale in comparison to what God has arranged for me.

And God sent me before you...

If you can imagine it, which I'm not sure I can, He knows the exact path of our entire life. From the beginning of time, He has the perfect timeline to use us to our full potential and accomplish His purpose. He knows the journey, He knows the roadblocks and stumbling blocks, and He knows where the heartaches will come. And He already has a plan for offering us the peace and comfort we need in those heartbreaking moments.

God sees His entire plan from beginning to end.
I do not.

Let's read that again. I do not know God plan for humanity from beginning to end. Everything in this moment of time is exactly as God has made it. Life is happening in the way He has appointed it to, not as it appears to my blurry eyes and finite mind.

And that truth should be a relief to each and every one of us. What a beautiful burden to not carry! I don't have to know the future because the God of the universe has already been there and taken care of me. The difficult moment, joyful moment, aching moment, or peaceful moment I'm in today is preparing me for what's going to come next. It hurts, but if the pain has a God-designed purpose, I don't want to miss out on it.

Thank You, Lord, for Your perfect timing. Please give me Your peace and comfort as I trust Your plan.

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