Re-Directions

Posted Aug 8, 06:37 AM by Kay Camenisch

I keep being reminded that man makes his plans, but the Lord directs his steps (Pr. 16:9). This lesson has been driven home through several avenues. A major one is the publication of Uprooting Anger, which I expected to be out last month. It’s due any time, but the process has taken longer than I imagined possible. I know God is sovereign, and He keeps reminding me that He directs our steps, so I trust that it is coming out right on time—even if it isn’t the time I set.

The garden has also served as a regular reminder that God is directing my steps. Last week, I had a list of writing projects to work on while Robert was out of town. On Monday morning, I went through my morning routine with great anticipation. I had a fruitful time with the Lord, dutifully did my exercise, had my bath and breakfast, and settled in to write the day away. I typed three words—yes, three words—into my trusty computer before a knock called me to the door. The rest of my day was given to picking and freezing corn. I worked in the kitchen until after 3:00 in the afternoon. My energy for writing, and thus completing my goals, was drained for the day. Yesterday it was tomatoes and okra. Today it was corn again, but in smaller quantities this time.

I’m pretty goal oriented, and it seems that my objectives are not being met. At one time I’d have been annoyed at such interruptions, but the Lord has been faithful to help me avoid frustration lately. He keeps whispering in my ear, “man makes his plans, but the Lord directs his steps.” If He’s directing my steps when I put up squash. corn, and tomatoes, then I can rejoice that I get to serve Him when I do it. If freezing and canning vegetables is pleasing to Him, how much more so is a visit with a friend, or the few quiet minutes with my husband? The long-overdue blog is not the priority I thought it was when I put it on my list.

Note: I know some interruptions—even some of these same activities at different times—are not from God. I’ve indulged in a few of them too, but that’s not the direction I’m going now, so we’ll leave that for another time.

For several weeks I’ve repeatedly been re-directed in my plans. It’s been an interesting journey as I’ve learned to embrace adjustments as opportunities from God to serve Him. I’ve discovered that there is more energy, peace, and joy in serving when I see God’s hand in the redirection and embrace it. More importantly, because I realize it is His direction/opportunity, I’m more aware of the Lord throughout the day, and I’ve learned to thank Him for it.

Another thing I’ve noticed tells me I haven’t reached the end of the journey. I begin most days with a mental idea of what I need to get done that day. At the end of the day, I feel I’ve done a lot when those things are checked off the list. However, when I don’t do things on my list, I usually don’t feel I’ve achieved much.

I tell Robert, “I didn’t accomplish a thing today!” But when I mentally review my day to see how I wasted time, I discover I accomplished a lot, it just wasn’t what I planned to do. Somehow, I’m leaving my things on the list and not adding the opportunities directed by God. If activities are not on my list, I don’t get them checked off. Consequently, I don’t realize I’ve accomplished anything.

It sounds like my goals are still more important to me than God’s goals for me. That’s scary. That’s not what I want.

But there’s still hope. God promised that He will complete the work that He’s begun in me (Phil 1:6), so I can trust Him to keep me in this classroom until His purposes are accomplished. Maybe some day I will be able to consistently rejoice in His re-direction even when He doesn’t whisper, “but the Lord directs his steps.” Maybe I will gain more satisfaction in fulfilling His goals than my own. I’m hopeful, because He is faithful. Until then, I’ll guess God will continue to re-direct my steps.