PLANS OR CIRCUMSTANCES

 4473

Pt. 1

Yesterday I was thinking about a verse in the New Testament Book of Philippians.

" For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purposes." (Phil. 2:13)

The implication seems to be that God has an individual plan for our lives, and that given that plan, He will provide us the time, talent and treasure to fulfill whatever He has set in our hearts to do. I mean, what believer can question the natural progression of His will, and the resulting fruit of our labor?

A Divine plan resulting in the sort of circumstances which fulfill the purposes of God for our lives.

However, it occurs to me that sometimes it is the other way around.

The sort of circumstances which fall together in such a Divine manner, so as to indicate, and result in what is obviously the plan of God for our lives.

Speaking of the second of the two possibilities, I think of my own chosen profession and ministry, the way in which circumstances have contributed to my realization of God's plan, (and two of my own daughters' involvement in the afore mentioned circumstances).

Pt. 2

The story is far too long to tell here, but suffice it to say that Mary was always a bit slow, and subsequent testing in high school indicated that she was borderline retarded with an IQ in the 70 range. Shortly after she graduated from high school, Mary began to display symptoms of psychosis. Ultimately, she was diagnosed with a common, but pervasive mental illness, and committed to a mental facility. She spent an entire year there, (and has resided in an assisted living environment the past thirty-five years).

Mary was 20 when she was diagnosed with Schizophrenia. The same year I enrolled in my Master's Degree in Counseling. I went on to serve as a pastoral counselor, and to pursue my Doctoral Degree.

The sort of circumstances which fall together in such a Divine manner, so as to indicate, and result in what is obviously the plan of God for our lives.

Fast forward 33 years!

Our daughter Kristy applied for an extremely responsible, and well paying position in Massachusetts. Things were going, as our British cousins are prone to say, swimmingly when she began to develop headaches, body aches, and dizziness. Ultimately, she was diagnosed with a genetic disorder of the brainstem. Over the course of the past two years, she has required five surgeries. As the result of her inability to return to work, she forfeited her job position. As the result of her inability to do so many of the common household tasks in the home, without some pretty negative symptoms, her mother, (and my wife), has stepped in to assist her. Over the course of the two years, Jean has been away from home a total of a year and three months. Though I have been left alone during that time period, and she is a thousand miles away, we are in complete accord. It is what it is. You do what you have to do. (And we are glad to do it).

As it stands now, we are making arrangements for me to travel to Massachusetts, and move in with them. As a result, given this dynamic, and the passage of time, (I am three years from 80), it is quite possible I will retire from my pastoral counseling career.

The sort of circumstances which fall together in such a Divine manner, so as to indicate, and result in what is obviously the plan of God for our lives.

Whether the Almighty indicates His plan to us, and the circumstances follow, or whether the circumstances precede the realization and fulfillment of His plan, God's will is done, it is one and the same, and our Lord is glorified.

by Bill McDonald, PhD