“Have you been asking God what He is going to do? He will never tell you. God does not tell you what He is going to do; He reveals to you Who He is.” -Oswald Chambers
I love to know what the plan is. I love to sketch out the big picture. I’m not married to the plan–I’m good with being flexible. I just want to know what we think is going to happen. And one of my favorite exercises is interpreting what God has done already so that I can anticipate what he is about to do next.
Because I want to know.
I went to my first conference and met with three editors who each asked me to send them a proposal. Clearly God meant for one of them to publish my novel. I went to my second conference and met with two agents–both of whom asked me to send them a proposal. Clearly, God wanted me to get an agent before an editor. I waited for the offer I knew was coming.
Well, I got an agent, but not through a conference. And I got an editor, but in a way that showed it had very little to do with me. I’m off to another conference in September. I haven’t the foggiest notion what God means to do. I won’t be going to schmooze agents or editors–although I’ll finally get to meet mine. All I have on my to-do list is meet people and learn stuff.
I’m tempted to ask God what He’ll do at this conference. I mean, it could be really, really exciting! I’d love to anticipate the awesome, amazing, super cool thing I just know he’s going to do. But even my wildly creative brain can’t come up with anything more exciting than what has happened already.
And I think that’s good. I think that’s right where God wants me–you–all of us–to be. He wants us anticipating NOT what He’s about to do, but rather what He’s about to demonstrate. How He’s about to reveal another little piece of Himself–a slice of God that will leave us in awe of HIM.
Until I read Oswald Chambers quote I thought I just needed to ask God in the right way to get Him to tell me what He was up to. I mean, it would be SO easy for Him to fill me in. And it would. But that’s not how He works. Because it’s not about me. It’s about him.
Oh, yeah. I like to forget that one. Can’t wait to see how He’s going to reveal Himself in a way I never could have anticipated. Seriously, what could be better?
Great post! I could “hear it” in your voice and I heard happiness and excitement with anticipation.
Perfect!
I just love your heart, young lady! As I was reading the first of your post I began to think that God does not “tell” us per se, but that He reveals / unveils / uncovers things for us instead – and then that is where you post led me. Hope to meet you some day when I get over to Asheville (we lived there from 1982 through 1987, have friends there and love to visit when we can.)
Thanks! Hopefully, once my first book is out, I’ll do some book-related events and we can meet.
LOVE that phrase “once my book is out” 🙂
Sigh. It’s like you read my mind. I was just talking about this, about how I so want to know “the plan.”
I know, right? Among my Bible study friends the joke is that no one wants to be behind me in line for heaven because I’ll hold things up with all my questions.
LOL because I’ve had that said about me!
Funny how we can think we know the plan, spend years praying for the plan to be fulfilled, and then God proceeds to fulfill it in a way we didn’t originally plan. I hope that makes sense, but I know what you mean. Esp. in writing–we can pin all our hopes on one agent/editor/publishing dream, only to realize that we were just blind. I’m SO GLAD you get to meet your agent and editor at conference! Such a blessing!
I know just what you mean! When I found out an agent lived FIVE MILES from my house I thought, well obviously God means her to be my agent. Nope. But she is a good friend. And I thought it was all so clear . . . : )
As I recall, when the Apostles asked Jesus when The End would come, he couldn’t tell them…because He didn’t know. Only the Father did, and he was holding the cards close.
As much as I’d like to know The Plan, in a larger way, I’d rather not. The last two years have been rough – loss of job and profession, severe health issues that are only getting worse…to be honest, I’m afraid to ask.
perhaps that’s why God made a round world, so that any road we travel has a horizon – beyond which we can’t see.
An excellent point! If Jesus didn’t get to know . . .
And, if we knew the outcome how would we be able to show our faith? To me, an important element of Christian living is choosing to believe… in Him AND in HIs plan for us.