Have you made plans on how you will spend your Christmas? If you have, that's good. It's always exciting to think about and plan worthwhile activities that will help us know God better while enjoying family and friends during Christmastime.
One thing that's really frustrating, however, is when Christmas plans get canceled or crashed for some reason. The paycheck arrives late, the weather goes crazy, expected family and friends don't show up, you or your family get sick during Christmas week, and the planned dinner ingredients are already sold out. Doesn't that just make you want to pull your hair out?
But before you do that, read on.
The Bible tells us that God is always in control of all things. He is Sovereign, and nothing is beyond His control. When He does allow something unpleasant to happen to us, it's not because He hates us or wants us miserable and unable to enjoy; it's actually because He knows we can handle it and He wants to produce good fruit in us.
But what about my plans?
Some of us don't understand why God allows our plans to get frustrated. We make our best plans for Christmas (or any time of the year), save our money for it, work hard in advance for it, and check all the information that we need for what we are planning to do, only to see those plans foiled. It might be tempting to get angry at God, but in reality He's not the enemy: the devil is the enemy.
God, however, allows us to experience hardship and frustration to birth Godly character in us. These unpleasant times, however, aren't too much for us to bear. 1 Corinthians 10:13 tells us,
"No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."
So how should we respond when our Christmas plans meet an unwanted dead-end? We rejoice in God because His plans are better than ours. James 1:2-4 encourages us:
"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."
In closing
My dear friends, perhaps you're thinking that it's easy for me to say these things. Let me just say that we all get frustrated because our plans do get canceled for some reason. If we will just hold on and trust God, however, we will see His goodness through it all.
With that, I encourage you: rejoice in the Lord always, whether your plans are canceled or not.
