Not Questioning the Plan

 

About that time King Herod Agrippa began to persecute some believers in the church. He had the apostle James (John’s brother) killed with a sword. When Herod saw how much this pleased the Jewish people, he also arrested Peter. (This took place during the Passover celebration.) Then he imprisoned him, placing him under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring Peter out for public trial after the Passover. Act 12: 1-4 (NLT)

 

James is killed by Herod, while Peter is miraculously spared. God's providence and plans are not easily understood. He uses us in different ways and allows different scenarios to play out in our lives in ways we cannot fully understand. He allows good and evil to exist together, often side by side in settings where that is uncomfortable. Things that you or I may never fully understand until we stand face-to-face with Him in heaven.

 

I had one of those experiences when I was in Indianapolis, coaching the Colts against my former team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It was a Monday Night Football game. On prime-time television. On my birthday.

 

It was my first time returning to Tampa after being fired, and I was sure it was going to be a night of redemption for me. That had to be God's plan. Instead, with just over four minutes to go in the game, we were behind by three touchdowns, and I found myself thinking, What kind of plan is that, God?

 

Next thing we knew, we had won the game in the largest comeback in Monday Night Football history. It was unbelievable, and I was so grateful for the way we won that night-miraculously! But as I look back now, I often ask myself, What if God hadn't allowed us to come back? Could I have accepted that as His will?

 

We may not like to admit it, but our minds are finite and limited in their ability to understand everything that happens to us. As much as we would like to and often try to, we can't predict the future. And as much as there are people who try, they cannot understand the infinite mind of God. We cannot see the scope of God's plan for our lives and the lives of others inextricably woven together for good. And to be perfectly honest, would we really want to see all the details?

 

There's really only one thing we need to know: "God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them" (Romans 8:28).

 

UNCOMMON KEY > When God unfolds His plans in your life that you don't understand, don't ask why, ask what. What do You want me to take away from this, Lord? Trust that God will show you one day how it all fits together.

 

Taken from, “The One Year Uncommon Life Daily Challenge” by Tony Dungy and Nathan Whitaker : June 1