Through my hands on horticulture job, the Lord continually teaches me object lessons. Just the other day he showed me one. Since moving to western North Carolina, I have a goal of planting spring blooming bulbs the third week in November, the week before Thanksgiving. A story was shared with me about a year when a crew where I worked at the time had waited to pant and the ground froze before completing the task. It became a horrible muddy mess as they tried multiple ways to thaw the soil. I vowed to not have that happen to me. Hence, planting the third week of a November. Many years the soil temperatures were still a little warm for the recommended planting of spring bulbs but we would plant anyway. This year, as usual, my plan was to plant the third week of November. We had unseasonably warm weather and I knew the soil temperatures were more than likely mid sixties or higher. I was scheduled off the week of Thanksgiving so I felt like the third week would once again be ideal. The beginning of the week brought in unseasonably cold weather. Sunday, our high for the day of 45 degrees was early in the morning with temperatures dropping throughout the day into the 20’s by that night. Everyday that week the forecast was high temperatures in the low 40’s with lows in the 20’s. And rain on Tuesday. I was looking at the very real possibility of not making my goal or getting bulbs panted before the upper layer of soil froze. At the very least planting in miserable conditions – cold, windy days and cold, wet soil. As I contemplated this, the Lord brought to mind Proverbs 16:19:
“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”
Proverbs 16:9 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/pro.16.9.NIV
I am reminded of how often we try to plan our lives – from as frequently as daily tasks to future plans like how and where to live, retire etc. We neglect the reality that we have no control. The Message translation of Proverbs 16:1 states:
“Mortals make elaborate plans, but God has the last word.”
Proverbs 16:1 MSG
https://bible.com/bible/97/pro.16.1.MSG
James even writes in chapter 4 about the arrogance of planning your life.
“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.””
James 4:13-15 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/jas.4.13-15.ESV
I don’t believe this means to not have goals or make plans but to hold them loosely.
“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.”
Proverbs 16:3 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/pro.16.3.ESV
Seek the Lord first and foremost. Allow Him to direct the steps of your life. Otherwise He may just throw you a bribe ball. Like below normal temperatures on the week you plan to plant spring blooming bulbs to avoid freezing soils.
Rainbows and Otter Pelt 