I spent most of my early years being told everything was predictable and orderly. If I lived a certain way or did something in a specific way, there was a guaranteed outcome consistent with my original plan.
Even God was pressed into the predictability mix. Anyone who follows the Ten Commandments and does everything the Bible requires will live long and prosper. God always worked in logical, understandable ways that made perfect sense.
Then life happened, and I saw things differently. The only things predictable about God are his trustworthiness, faithfulness, and perfect parenting skills of his children.
Preparing for this life’s serendipities, changes, and interruptions makes things interesting, to say the least. God regularly interrupts our plans, calendars, desires, prayers, thoughts, Bible study, service, conversations, careers, creativity, public speeches, and whatever is left.
In reality, God interrupting us on a regular basis is a good thing. Since we tend to wander off a bit, the Good Shepherd must interrupt and pull us back to the flock. Hard-headedness is a common human trait.
Proverbs 16 is a mix of encouraging and uncomfortable statements. The same chapter containing “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans,” (vs. 3) moves to the next verse with something less inspirational, “The Lord works out everything to its proper end—even the wicked for a day of disaster.”
I haven’t seen verse four on a wall plaque lately. After verse three, we smile; but after verse four, we think, Wait, what?
So, what does this have to do with writing? Frankly, everything.
Planning your writing is just fine. Pray about it and regularly ponder it. But God might very well take you in a different direction than planned. At the very least, he will likely use your work differently than you thought. As if he says, “Nice work, my child; but I’m going to use it for something else.”
The book for young people, helping them process a difficult issue growing up, might end up bearing fruit among much older people who still haven’t settled a difficult childhood.
A book helping fellow believers solidify their faith might be used to bring an unbeliever to faith.
A book for unbelievers might help believers strengthen their faith.
A book of basic Bible stories for young children might bring a parent to see their need for a Savior. (A friend of mine prayed to receive Christ while sitting in his daughter’s kindergarten story time at church.)
The Holy Spirit intervened.
How many believers have been interrupted by God as they routinely read Scripture one morning and have a thought-altering encounter with the Creator over coffee?
I’ll often think of how some people write as a process of discovery. This means they might have a general direction in mind; but they allow the story to go where it will, a character to say what they want, etc.
Writing (and living) as a Christ-follower is like a discovery process, as we realize our thoughts and ways are not his.
When you write, be open to interruptions by God, who might have another idea, taking you in unpredictable directions.
Gimme a RAH RAH RAH!!!
Life with God is certainly an adventure! God has interrupted my plans so many times that I now accept it as the norm. 🙂 But oh, how much better are His plans than mine!
Thank you, Dan, for this wonderful reminder that we are not in control. God is. And what peace that brings to my soul!
Dan, I hope what follows fits in with God’s unpredictability. It’s all I can do to help.
Today I know a family
whose world had come apart,
the cruelest of calamaties
a dagger to the heart.
A son has chose to make the leap
into the black abyss.
‘How could we have been so asleep?
What, Lord, did we miss?’
And there is silence from above
where once the sky was warmly blue
and laced with a predicted love,
but now it all seems new
and yet they raise trembling hands
to a God they do not understand.
There is help waiting at the 988 Suicide And Crisis Lifeline.
If you are thinking of suicide, or know someone who is, call or text 988 now.
Tomorrow may be too late.
Thank you, Andrew. “Tomorrow” was too late for my dear cousin who struggled with depression, and was weighed down by this world, thus committed suicide last year.
Ann, I am so sorry.
The son of a friend killed himself yesterday, a teenager who didn’t feel he would ever fit in.
So much is lost.
This is beautifully written and expresses the anguish of a family left behind so well. Thank you.
“. . . ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”
—CS Lewis (The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe)
Thanks for that beautiful reminder, Dan. I love the story of your friend accepting Christ during his daughter’s church story time. We too often forget Who we serve and how He can use our words in ways we can’t imagine.
Dan, thanks for sharing such truth. As a parent of a child who now lives in Heaven, I have learned that God’s ways aren’t always my ways, but what a great journey this Christian life is!
So true, Dan. I’ve gotten to the point where I will write a sentence or two, and if God doesn’t take over, I’ll just stop and wait. So far, He always comes through, sooner or later.
Thanks so much for an interesting article, Dan. I wonder though. Perhaps it is not God who interrupts us but that we interrupt the plans of God by going off in our own directions. As we grow in our understanding of our partnership with Him, we’ll find less unpredictable moments or at least, when we get those new directions, we’ll sense that what we used to see as course corrections are actually part of the plan as God directs us step by step. I’m learning slowly in my writing journey and my daily life to ask at each juncture, “Lord, what’s next?” Random thoughts and still mulling. Thanks for helping me look at the day ahead with fresh eyes.
Do you suppose before Chapter 1 began, Job thought everything was predictable?
Our Lord of Glory has done this in my life and writing as well. And yes, His writing and direction are always much better than my plans. Proverbs 16 has long been a favorite, and as I am writing, verse nine comes to mind: “A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps.” Thank you for the inspiration and encouragement, Dan. This is a priceless piece.
Thanks Dan!
I think God interrupts in everything[contrary to what some people might think] to ensure His will is accomplished. He also intervenes to ensure things are aligned according to His will for us.
God bless you.
Blessings.
Love your insight. I’m always inspired. Thank you.
When I moved from Fixer to Truster, it was through a difficult trial. God knows best for sure.
Thank you, Dan, for a wonderful reminder. I became a Christian 14 years ago, surrendering my career to the Lord. He has been unpredictably faithful ever since.
He put me in prestigious grad school then post doc that people from stronger backgrounds would envy, moved us all around this continent, switched me from cognitive neuroscience to psychiatry to psychology, from major cities to rural Maine.
All the while I thought I was to use scientific research to change the world. The discipline of grinding long hours, writing skills, and mentoring others to navigate relationships/life with His wisdom, He redirected it to teaching + novel writing.
The most beautiful surprise of all, after Holy Spirit taught me, across ten years, how to thrive in a marriage where I was the only follower, He surprised us both by bringing my husband to Christ. Now we have the joy of learning anew to love and serve Him as a couple.
I wouldn’t have Him any other way 🙂