Flexibility In Faith

Tell God your Own Plans

By Rev. Dr. Roger Braun, Retired Methodist Minister, guest columnist

There is the old saying, “If you want to make God laugh, tell God your own plans for the future.” You see, God may have other plans for you. In the Old Testament book of Judges, we read about a man named Gideon. In the days of Gideon, the Midianites were invading the land of Israel with a large army of men and camels. Gideon was called upon to raise an army and drive out the Midianites. Gideon had his own plan and soon raised an army of 32,300 men. However, this was not God’s plan for Gideon. God told Gideon he had too many men and to send home 32,000 men. This left only 300 men to face a great army. Yet, with just three hundred men, the Midianite army fled the country in confusion and fear and never returned.

It is easy to see that Gideon could have defied God’s plan and stubbornly clung to his own.

Common sense would have told Gideon that 32,000 men were needed to defeat another army of the same size. Although God’s plan worked, Gideon had to be flexible in his faith to make it

work. That is what this essay is about. Faith and flexibility do go together. It is perfectly

reasonable to make your plans for the future and, at the same time, be open to changing them as it becomes apparent that your plans and God’s plans for you are in different directions. Then,

having faith in God and God’s will for you, you change course.

Faithful people accept God’s new direction for their lives because they trust God. Instead

of being stubborn or resentful and going forward no matter what with their own plans, they accept the path God has for them and trust that God will make everything work out for the best. Like many of you, my life did not turn out exactly the way I planned. I have had many major changes in my life. I am still sorrowful about some of those changes, but I remain flexible and accept them. I am still here, and I am sure God is not through with me yet. I want to be flexible enough to follow God’s plan for my life, but every now and then, I make God laugh.

The Links below will take you to Resources you can use in a Christian Faith Based setting
to encourage the Character Quality of Flexibility.

Flexibility Poster>>

Flexibility Prayer>>

Our other Pillars have resources that can be adapted for use in a Christian setting.

Visit Flexibility in the Community>>

Quotes
Character All Month Calendar
Related Qualities
Character Holiday Activities
Family Activity (with a printable for sending home to parents)