Plan for the Present

Last updated on: August 17, 2011 at 9:08 am by Amy Julia Becker

Plan for the Present 2011-08-17T09:08:33-04:00 Amy Julia Becker

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I’m all for retirement savings and life insurance policies and buying shoes that our kids can grow into and planting trees with the hope that they will grow larger in time. There are times, of course, when planning for the future is good and necessary and right.

But I’ve had a number of conversations lately that have led me to think that sometimes we need to admit that the future is out of our control. Sometimes all we can, and should, do is plan for the present.

Take, for instance, the number of people I know who have decided to hold their kids back from starting kindergarten. In some cases, that decision has to do with their child right now–he’s having trouble socially, she still takes a nap, she hasn’t learned her letters yet. But in many cases, parents talk about holding their kids back because of what might happen in the future. In high school, for instance, their son might be at a disadvantage on a sports team because of his size. Or their daughter might be intimidated by older boys in her class when she gets to ninth grade. Or there might come a time when an extra year serves them well academically. But in all those cases, the parent doesn’t know what will happen in the future. All they know is who their child is now, whether he or she seems ready for kindergarten. In that case, plan for the present.

There’s so much I want to control–when and whether we move our family if my husband ever changes jobs . . . the “success” of my writing career . . . where we live and how much money we make and the quality of our children’s education and the character of their friends . . .

But then I think of Jesus words to his disciples in Luke 12:

22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?27 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

Perhaps for a 21st century American audience Jesus would add, “Don’t worry about what college your kid will get into or whether they will play a Varsity sport or whether you will be able to retire at age 50 . . . Instead, pay attention to the good work God is doing all around you right now and be a part of it.”

Jesus urges us to plan for the present for a few reasons. One, because the future is out of our control. And it’s a part of recognizing our humanity to admit it. But this isn’t a hopeless stance. We also plan for the present because of hope and faith that God is in control of the future. Jesus isn’t saying that we don’t need food and drink and basic provision (or that we shouldn’t care about our children’s education or well-being). Rather, he’s saying that we don’t need to worry about those things because God will take care of them.

So when I’m up in the middle of the night wondering about where we’ll be a few years from now and whether the school system will be able to support Penny and whether William and Marilee will have friends and whether we’ll be able to find a church and whether I’ll ever have an idea for another book and whether . . . I stop. And then I pray that I will trust in God’s provision for our life. I let go of all the possibilities. And I plan for the present.

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