Make your plans, but leave the outcome to God. (this is the mental picture I had of my brother)…

Have you ever made a plan, saw it play out clearly in your mind, waited with anticipation for the fruition of your plan, only to have the opposite happen? My brother for several months had been planning a special event for his girlfriend. An airplane ride to watch the sunset over the South Beach. The setting romantic: the sunset, the skyline, champagne just him and his girl together and smiling. Today I casually asked, “How was your sunset flight?” To which he answered, “Terrifying.” I started laughing I immediately got a mental picture of him clinging to the handle bars in the plane and screaming. I asked what happen, he proceeded to say when they arrived at their destination they realized it was a flight school, but he figured no big, surely his pilot will be an experienced airman. Imagine his surprise when a kid younger than him (my brother is only 24), introduces himself has the pilot. The pilot waylays their fears by telling them he has clocked many hours in the air so they need not worry. Feeling a little more confident, my bother’s girlfriend inquires, “How many of these flights have you done?” To which he replies, “This is my first flight without and instructor.” (Hahaha) They thought he was kidding…he wasn’t. I am dying, tears are in my eyes (because I can picture my brother’s facial expression).  He proceeds to tell them it may be a little bumpy, but not to worry it shouldn’t be too bad… Uh-huh. According to my brother at one point the plane actually stops and they start falling. Then he said this.”I had this romantic picture in my head, instead I almost peed my pants and broke my girl friend’s hand from squeezing it so hard.” As he was telling me his tale. I started to visualize all the things I had pictured in my head that turned out to be the opposite of what I saw. Then God reminded me, we make the plans, but He directs the path. We will constantly be disappointed if we believe the picture in our heads to be true. Make your plans, but leavee the outcome to God, He won’t disappoint.

“We plan the way we want to live, but only God makes us able to live it” (Proverbs 16:9, The Message Bible).

So what’s my plan of attack? Make my plans, but leave the steps up to God.