When Things Don't Go as Planned

I have been a Steph Curry fan since his days at Davidson College.  During their NBA title run last year, I magically became somewhat of a Golden State Warriors fan.  I loved watching Steph lead their team.  And I checked each morning this past year to see if they would eclipse the Bulls record of 72-10.  A championship run this year was a lock.  That is, until round one of the playoffs. 

After torching Houston for 24 points and 6 rebounds less than 20 minutes of game time, he rolled his ankle.  He sat out games 2 and 3.  Disaster struck again in game 4, with Steph returning only to slip on a wet spot.  As he landed, his knee jerked awkwardly, and he left the game in the second half.  Pending an MRI today, he could miss the rest of the season. 

A week a go the Warriors were favored to win the NBA Title.  Now?  They might become an easy out in the second round. 

Of course, hind sight is 20/20.  People ask questions like, "Should Steph of played at all in this round of the playoffs," or "The Warriors shouldn't have gone after the NBA record for most wins in a season."  But no one knew that a Houston player would fall, causing the specific wet spot that Curry would slip on.  It could have happened to anyone.  It just so happened that the victim was the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player.  And just like that, he is no longer able to play.  It's a modern parable for us.

"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."  (James 4:13-14)

James says our lives are like a mist.  We're here for a little time.  And then we're gone.  But this doesn't just apply to death. 

I had been planning on buying a mini-van this past January, in preparation for our growing family.  Heather's civic appeared to have plenty of life to make til then.  But a part broke, and it didn't make financial sense to repair or remove it.  So we bought the van six months before we wanted too.

This was difficult for me.  I had planned on the extra time to save enough money for a new car.  I said, "this is the plan."  God showed me that I hadn't considered that He was in control.  It was gracious of Him to remind me to trust His timetable, not mine. 

So, are we willing to look to Jesus as the one who directs our plans?  Or do we hold on too tight?  Does our anxiety expose our mistrust?  Or will we let it move us towards a humble reliance on the God who gives life and purpose?

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you."  (I Peter 5:6-7)

When plans are interrupted, it's an opportunity to thank God for the opportunity to trust Him.  And we can gladly trust in faith, because He cares for us.