“I can’t believe you did this!” I stared incredulously at her small family on my front porch. It was before 8 am; yet my friend intuitively knew I hadn’t slept a wink and needed her like never before.
She had loaded her four young children into her minivan and landed on my doorstep bright and early, all because she knew I had received a serious medical diagnosis the day before.
She “couldn’t do much” she had said. But she knew she could be present. And at that very moment, her presence meant the world.
Many years after that fateful day, she shared that when she’d read the prayer request at midnight, she’d felt compelled to visit early the next morning.
Even though she had many, many other good things she needed to do, could do, should do, that day.
In Luke 4:42-43, Jesus also faced the challenge of doing what He knew He was called to do in lieu of what good things vied for His attention at that moment. Jesus was intentional with His time and His actions. Even “good things” couldn’t dissuade Him from His calling.
Jesus knew how to sort through voices. What others said He should do. What His own voice told Him He wanted to do. What God had authored for Him to do.
He didn’t allow distractions to dissuade Him from following God’s directions.
God promises in Jeremiah 29:11, “‘I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'” (NIV)
He knows His plans for you and me.
As His children, we often search out those plans, even for the agenda for the day.
The question is: once we discern those plans do we allow distractions to dissuade us from them?
Or, do we follow Jesus’ lead and diligently stay the course, even declining invitations to do good?
Wow, isn’t it hard to always say ‘yes’ to an agenda we didn’t author? Isn’t it difficult to say ‘no’ when we vividly see the good we could be doing?
Jesus knows the pull on our hearts and the tug for our time. He understands that humans have limited resources. He showed us what to do when faced with time and energy constraints: side with God’s direction.
Maybe like me, you also find it challenging to always do God’s to-do list. The begging eyes of a child, the messy kitchen calling, or pile of work staring you straight in the eye! Yet, when I feel myself pausing at that crossroads, I recall my friend and her crazy-early morning visit. I could not adequately articulate how much her presence blessed me that morning.
There were obviously so many other good things she could have spent those hours doing. Yet, she followed His prompting and I was blessed because of it.
I pray I too, can obey His agenda and bless someone else although I first need to learn to say ‘no’ to good things!
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your guidance and Your example of what to do each moment. Thank You that You do indeed know the plans you have for me. Those plans to indeed give me hope and a future. May I discern Your voice, Your plans, and not allow myself to be distracted or dissuaded from them. In Jesus’ name, Amen.