"Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a
city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that."
James 4:13-15
This whole chapter talks about being submissive and humble, and these verses seem to explain the whole idea behind that. Our lives are a vapor. We really don't know what will happen from one day to the next, and we can't predict things. I think we rail against that sometimes, because we really want a sense of control over our lives... we want to be able to plan for tomorrow, and have things our way. Unfortunately, in some ways, it doesn't work that way. But fortunately in some ways too. I look back at my life and I wonder how completely wrong my life would have gone at certain points if it were really controlled by me. :) Instead of looking at our lack of control as a bad thing, maybe we can see it from the other side today. The fact that God is guiding our lives is SO much better than if we were... right? We make plans and put down roots, and God comes and digs them up, and we panic. We have no idea what comes next, or how we're going to deal with this unpredictable situation. But God knows what will come next, and he knows we can handle it, or he wouldn't give it to us. He knows what we will learn and what we will become, and how much stronger and better we can be. ... And, sincerely, being able to let go of some of that control is freeing. We don't have to be stressed about having control, or worry about what will happen tomorrow. We can relax, and let God have control of that. When we do make plans, the wise advice of the third verse helps us. We should say "If the Lord will." That not only reminds us to counsel with the Lord in everything that we do, but reminds us that we don't have to be stressed about tomorrow. No matter what happens, good or bad, it is all part of the journey God is taking us on to our own personal promised land. We don't know the way, but he does. ... And as we listen to him and accept his guidance, he will make us strong enough to face the daily challenges of the journey.
Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that."
James 4:13-15
This whole chapter talks about being submissive and humble, and these verses seem to explain the whole idea behind that. Our lives are a vapor. We really don't know what will happen from one day to the next, and we can't predict things. I think we rail against that sometimes, because we really want a sense of control over our lives... we want to be able to plan for tomorrow, and have things our way. Unfortunately, in some ways, it doesn't work that way. But fortunately in some ways too. I look back at my life and I wonder how completely wrong my life would have gone at certain points if it were really controlled by me. :) Instead of looking at our lack of control as a bad thing, maybe we can see it from the other side today. The fact that God is guiding our lives is SO much better than if we were... right? We make plans and put down roots, and God comes and digs them up, and we panic. We have no idea what comes next, or how we're going to deal with this unpredictable situation. But God knows what will come next, and he knows we can handle it, or he wouldn't give it to us. He knows what we will learn and what we will become, and how much stronger and better we can be. ... And, sincerely, being able to let go of some of that control is freeing. We don't have to be stressed about having control, or worry about what will happen tomorrow. We can relax, and let God have control of that. When we do make plans, the wise advice of the third verse helps us. We should say "If the Lord will." That not only reminds us to counsel with the Lord in everything that we do, but reminds us that we don't have to be stressed about tomorrow. No matter what happens, good or bad, it is all part of the journey God is taking us on to our own personal promised land. We don't know the way, but he does. ... And as we listen to him and accept his guidance, he will make us strong enough to face the daily challenges of the journey.
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