So often you have to make plans for the rest of the day or the week or the next month. You might be planning to go fishing or shopping. You may be planning to go on holidays or to your brother’s wedding. You probably have many plans for the times ahead of you. But do you realize that everything that you plan only happens if the Lord wills it to happen? You can plan whatever you like, but it will only happen if the Lord allows it to happen.

That’s what James teaches us in this passage. When you are planning something, always remember that the Lord could have different plans for you. This became very clear to everyone during the coronavirus pandemic. We had been going to church every Sunday for years, and suddenly we couldn’t anymore. We had always been able to go to school, and suddenly we couldn’t anymore. We had made many plans, but the Lord stopped them all. The Lord’s plans were different than ours.

Always remember what James tells us. Remember that your life is like a vapor, or a mist. By this James reminds us that our life is so short. Compared to living forever, even a life of 80 or 90 years is so short. So use this short life to serve the Lord. Live every day for the Lord.

Then you can plan to do activities. You can plan to go to church, to go to a wedding or to go on holidays, but when you plan, always remember that God is in control of your life. He may have different plans than you have. This is a great comfort because God’s plans are always better than our plans. He is the creator of the whole universe, and he is your God. He loves you as his covenant child. You are his, so whatever his plans are for your life, they will be for your good. It may not always feel this way to us, but you can trust God. After all, he sent his Son to die for you, so he will also be with you in whatever plans he has for you.

Reflection with your child:

Why should you say, “The Lord willing,” when you plan to do something?