We all try to think ahead and make arrangement for our lives. But God has declared in his word that He already has plans for our life. God expects us to believe that He does every thing for good. We long for a better life; a better situation; a more prosperous job; or a happy marriage. We always like to have only good and happy things happen in our life. The Bible says in Proverbs 16:9 “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.”
We read in Genesis that when Joseph was in prison he revealed the dream of the king’s chief cup bearer who was confined with him. Joseph requested the chief cup bearer to remember him and to mention about him to the king when everything goes well. But the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph and forgot him. Two years later when the king had a dream and was troubled, the chief cup bearer was reminded of Joseph and tells the king about him. Here we can clearly understand the work of god. If the cupbearer would have told about Joseph two years back, the king would have honored Joseph with some valuable gifts. But gods plan was to make Joseph in charge of whole Egypt and hence He made the cupbearer to remember Joseph at the right time. “His (God’s) understanding is inscrutable.”Isaiah 40:28
Here I am reminded by a funny story I came across..
A king once had a slave who, in all circumstances said: "My king, do not be discouraged because everything God does is perfect, no mistakes..." One day, they went hunting and a wild animal attacked the king, the slave managed to kill the animal but couldn't prevent his majesty losing a finger. Furious and without showing gratitude, the King said; "if God was good, I would not have been attacked and lost one finger!"The slave replied: "Despite all these things, I can only tell you that God is good and everything he does is perfect, He is never wrong!" Outraged by the response, the king ordered the arrest of his slave. Later, he left for another hunt and was captured by savages who use human for sacrifice. In the altar, the savages found out that the king didn't have one finger in place so he was released because he was considered not "complete" to be offered to the Gods... On his return to the palace, he authorized the release of his slave saying; "My friend, God was really good to me! I was almost killed but for lack of a single finger I was let go! But I have a question: if God is so good, why did He allow me to put you in jail?" He replied: "My king, if I had gone with you, I would have been sacrificed for you because I have no missing finger."
Remember, everything God does is perfect, He is never wrong... Often we complain about life, and the negative things that happen to us, forgetting that nothing is random and that everything has a purpose... “God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end.” Ecclesiastes 3:11.,”.All things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
It is in God that we can find the hope for our future. If we put our hope in God, there will be no surprising ending in our lives.