Many of us regularly check the weather forecast to find out what's in store in the "great outdoors". We want to know what to expect and how to prepare--whether to wear the heavy coat, the light coat or no coat; whether to carry the umbrella or wear the sunglasses. We count on the weather forecasters to be as accurate as possible so we can respond accordingly and not end up wearing flip flops and a sun hat during a torrential downpour.
Weather forecasts not only affect what we wear, but where we go and what we do. If thunderstorms are predicted--or even an extreme heatwave--we may decide to reschedule an outdoor event. Forecasts of heavy snow send people scrambling to the grocery stores to stock up on "must haves" like toilet paper and milk.
Ominous forecasts can occasionally strike fear in us, making us feel helpless and at the mercy of the elements. We forget, however, that regardless of how technologically advanced meterologists have become, it's still essentially a hit or miss when it comes to forecasting. Sometimes they're right on and other times way off.
That's because they are not in the driver's seat, they are actually following behind the driver trying to anticipate the driver's next move.
So it is with life. There are times when people will make predictions over our lives that we take to heart and use as the basis to make or revise important plans--"I don't know if you're going to be able to handle that...."; "You don't have the right education..."; "No one has ever done that before"; "Are you SURE you want to do that?"; "It'll never work!"; "Don't quit your day job!"
Some of these proved to be famous last words as many renowned athletes, musicians, authors and others boldly proved the naysayers' forecasts to be wrong.
I remember the first time I sang a particular song at an event where I worked. As the time drew near for me to sing, someone asked me, "Are you going to sing that song? You know there are a lot of high notes in it." Of course I was irritated at the not-so-subtle hint that I wouldn't be up to the task, but somehow, the peace of God that passes understanding came over me, and my response regarding the "high notes" was simply, "Yes, I know" accompanied by a smile.
And, with that, I proceeded to sing through the power of God, hitting every high note as well as all the other notes. It was truly a Memorex moment! (Younger readers, ask your parents about Memorex and Ella Fitzgerald ;-). That individual's forecast of gloom and doom had no power over me, because I refused to yield to it.
What about you? Are you more worried about what people think or what God thinks?
"How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them!" (Psalm 139:17). "The thoughts of the righteous are right; but the counsels of the wicked are deceit" (Proverbs 15:26). "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end" (Jeremiah 29:11).
When you move forward in faith, don't expect everyone to understand--why should they when you may not even fully understand everything yourself? As much as we honor pioneers like the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., don't forget that when he was alive, he faced his share of negative predictions from African Americans and others regarding what some viewed as fruitless "rabble rousing."
Thank God he didn't fear the forecast. For, even though he faced stormy days and nights, his efforts yielded much fruit-- fruit that remains. We, too, can live fruitful, history-making lives if we fill our minds with the promises of God and learn about the thoughts and plans that were laid out for us even before we were formed in the womb.
Let's not put our faith in the weatherman, let's have faith in the weathermaker so that, regardless of what happens in the middle, we can be sure that the beginning as well as the end of the story will say, "We win!" You won't find a more accurate forecast than that.
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
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