Expect your best laid plans to be interrupted

The first Christmas had its share of stress – some unexpected interruptions. Chances are your perfect Christmas may have some unexpected interruptions as well.

It may be an unexpected lay off.

It may be an unexpected illness.

It may be an unexpected death.

I hope that if there are unexpected interruptions this Christmas that you’ll see dashed Christmas plans as an opportunity for growth.

Today and tomorrow I am going to present two survival tips to help us get through the most wonderful time of the year.

Survival tip #1:  Expect your best laid plans to be interrupted.

Mary and Joseph’s plans were interrupted 2000 years ago. We see this in Matthew 1 verse 18 which says:

“This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.”

Joseph and Mary had been planning a wedding until God told them to prepare a nursery.

Hebrew marriages had two stages:

1. The Kiddushin (engagement, betrothal).

Legally the couple was married but not living together and they had not consummated the relationship yet. The Kiddushin could last as much as 12 months. It tested fidelity and integrity. In order to break the engagement you had to get divorced. Today you just have to say “let’s call it off.”

2.  The Huppah (Marriage ceremony itself).

Joseph was planning on marrying his sweetheart, drawing up house plans, carving their marriage bed … BIG PLANS.

Mary was planning an elaborate wedding, picking out china patterns, thinking about how she was going to decorate her new house … BIG PLANS.

Can you imagine a 15-year-old Mary going to her 20 something fiance and Joseph starts talking about floor plans and wall color and Mary says, “Joe, honey, we need to talk …. I’m pregnant.”

Short of divorce, death or dismemberment …very few of us will have holiday plans interrupted as much as Joseph and Mary’s!

If God interrupted Joseph and Mary’s wedding plans, realize that our plans are fair game for God too.

We can make plans on top of plans on top of plans but our plans may not be what God has planned for us.

“Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” James 4:13-15

What it comes down is: Our plans versus God’s plans.

Which one do you think is ultimately going to get done?

God’s of course!

Everything is open to interruption.

Our best laid plans are subject to interruption but that’s not an entirely bad thing.

Come back tomorrow to learn why!

Tomorrow we will look at a second survival tip that can help us get through the most wonderful time of the year: Try to get God’s take on the interruption.

What is your response to interrupted plans?

Related posts:

1. Sermon Synopsis – Surviving the most wonderful time of the year
2. Goals/plans for 2009
3. Have you ever had your plans not work out?