I think we all have those moments in our lives where we have mapped out our plans – either for a day, a season, or for a significant portion of our lives – and something happens to completely alter those plans.
It’s the traffic jam when you’ve lined up your entire schedule based on usual traffic patterns, and now you’re late to an important meeting or to pick up a child from school or an event (not that that’s ever happened to me). Maybe it’s not getting that perfect job that you thought you were a shoo-in for. Maybe it’s a financial or health event that changes the trajectory of the rest of your life. Whatever it is, there are times where we look at how we thought things were “supposed” to go, and find ourselves frustrated or confused.
In these moments, it’s hard to see beyond the obstruction in front of your planned future. In that regard, however, we know that we are in good company. A few weeks back in worship, we heard the story of Jesus walking to Emmaus with two lesser-‘nown disciples. In their conversation, it’s clear that in Jesus they had seen a specific destination in mind. They “had hoped that he would be the one to redeem Israel.” And Jesus’ crucifixion seemed to put a serious obstruction in that planned future. In the book of Genesis, we read about Jacob’s sons, 10 of whom plot against their brother Joseph, resulting in his challenges and eventual rise in Egypt. We know that being sold into slavery wasn’t in Joseph’s envisioned future.
Yet, even though things didn’t go according to plan, God had a better idea in mind. Jesus Christ defeated death and has redeemed not just Israel but the whole of creation! It just hasn’t happened in the way that the disciples envisioned at the time. Joseph, after using his gift of interpretation to become nearly equal to Pharaoh, encounters his brothers, eventually reconciling with them, telling them, “Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good.” Our human intents have no power over God’s inescapable grace.
That raises the question: What is God intending in the midst of the hard things in our lives? While God doesn’t necessarily cause the bad, God can and does often provide good despite these challenges. There’s opportunity for new or galvanized community in the face of significant life challenges. Paths we thought our lives were intended to follow are closed to us, and the new path might lead to even more meaningful, life-giving opportunities in different directions.
By now, most of you have heard that Andrew DeValk is soon going to be vacating his position as choir director here at Esperanza. We’ve been blessed by the presence of him and his entire family for the past couple of years, and now many of us are wondering what’s next for the music ministry of Esperanza. It would be easy to be discouraged at this time if you’re a passionate supporter of our music program. But one of the blessings I am already seeing is the blessing of hope – something that we’re quite fond of here at Esperanza. We have seen what this position as choir director can look like, and we know that there are talented individuals who can continue to help this ministry grow. A change in direction doesn’t necessarily lead to regression. Sometimes it can lead to a new step in unexpected, positive directions. And this hope that we’re beginning to glimpse in this time of transition is in some ways a small glimpse of what we experience in the challenges we face in our daily lives as well.
Let’s be honest; You don’t need me to tell you that this world can sometimes be discouraging. But the good news is we have a God who walks with us who is indeed a God of possibilities. As our lives change, we have the Spirit-led ability to find hope in what comes next. The challenges that divert us from the path we thought we were meant to travel do not have to define us beyond that moment.
I pray that as we continue to walk together in this uncertain world we always look toward the possibilities – that God is continuing to do new things. New adventures await. And God is still walking beside us in Christ Jesus, cheering us on along the way.
Pastor Chris