"God willing": I used to say those two words all the time. Whenever I talked to someone on the telephone, and, at the end, I said, "See you soon," I would add those two words: "God willing." It seemed that whenever I set up a future meeting or event with someone, I would add those two words. Then, for some reason, those two words became rote and a habit; I would say them without thinking about their meaning.

James 4:13-15 – Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." (NIV)

Yet it is so true. We live and die as God wills. Each day is a gift from God, and we really don't know what will happen from one day to the next.

The phrase, "God willing", is often used by a person having a particular plan, but who is also willing to submit that plan to God's will after praying about the situation. "God willing, I'm going to Africa to help out in an orphanage that cares for AIDS orphans." "I'm going" — unless for some unknown reason, my flight gets cancelled, or I get sick, or I am prevented from going. And when that happens, I hope that I am humble enough to realize that God had a different plan than what I wanted.

We really don't know what will happen from one day to the next. Our times, our days on earth, every second, are in God's hands, and only He knows what is best for us.

Jeremiah 29:11 – "For I know the plans that I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope." (NASB)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, You know what the future holds for each and every one of us. Help us to do Your perfect will and if for some reason things don't turn out the way we want them to, teach us to trust in Your perfect plan. May Your will be done on earth now and always. Amen.

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About the author:

Rosemary Hagedorn <rosyhagedorn@gmail.com>
Penetanguishene, Ontario, Canada
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