It’s all part of the plan.

You read me right. There is a big picture involved, and every single thing that is
happening to you, has already been painted into it.

The theme for this month is Faithfulness. Any guesses as to what it means? Hint:
it has to do with being completely committed to something.

****

While there are different theories that try to explain how everything came to be
and what was before, there is but only one fact that matters to us all. The one
truth that means everything to a child of God.

He loved us before Creation.

I do not know whether if you are acquainted with the most-accepted theory of
the formation of the universe, but I shall gladly reiterate it here for you:
The Universe is posited to have started with a Big Bang. The Big Bang in itself was
a rapid expansion of matter in a very, very small time. It was an awe-inspiring
incident, compacted into a mind-blowingly short time, with the subsequent turn
of events leading to star formation and planet formation and the cosmos as we
know it now. It all began 13 billion years ago. And here we are today.

If this is too much to take, would you be able to absorb the fact that before the
first event that set others in motion, before time was woven into the fabric of
space, or even before either of those came to be, before it ALL, you were loved?

In Isaiah chapter 25 verse 1, the prophet proclaims “…for in perfect faithfulness

you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago” (NIV). Did you notice
that? The prophet was talking about a plan from long ago, and he’s ascribing it
to God’s faithfulness. Interesting.

Indeed, other servants of God have also brought it up. In Psalm 138 verse 2, it is
written “I will … praise your name for your love and faithfulness…” (NIV) as well
as in Psalm 100 verse 5 “For the Lord is good … his faithfulness continues through
all generations” (NIV)
And this is why we are asked to keep waiting for God’s timing. God is faithful,
and his faithfulness has endured for generation after generation. It is his
faithfulness that has protected your life. It is his faithfulness that has brought
you from the depths of corruption and iniquity that you found yourself in. and it
is his faithfulness that is going to take you out of current crises. You see, its
already sorted out and accounted for in his plan.

So how can we be expected to wait? After all, we are not privy to this big picture;
we’re only watching it play out in our lives. This is when you can take stock in
what has been offered by means of God’s Word. We are his children, which mean
we can avail of his qualities.

In the epistle to the Galatians, in chapter 5 verses 22 and 23, the apostle Paul
wrote “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness…”. Its right there, and the apostle is asking the Galatians to bear
such fruit. Bringing in the presence of the Holy Spirit into our lives, paying
attention to what he wants to say, and acting accordingly, is how we can bear
such fruit. Including faithfulness.

I must warn against misusing this concept, though. There is a lazy attitude
prevalent among Christians by summarily invoking the phrase “it is his plan” and
thereby leaving the burden of effort to God. A promise is expected to be fulfilled
anyhow without the believer putting any effort or striving to learn any lesson.
Remember always, God is counting on you to do your part. Being his child, you
are expected to be faithful in all that you do. As an example, students: you may
expect to pass through your examinations – its his plan to help you get through
the course – but don’t expect flying colours if you are putting in zero effort.

Coming back to the crux of what we are exploring, faithfulness has to do with
being committed to something. It is important to acknowledge that God is
committed to his plan which he began to realize all those eons ago. It’s out there
and being realized as we speak!

So if you are passing through a rough patch right now (and it might sound cliché
as you’ve probably heard it before) but it is very much part of The Plan. Cheer
up!
If you are having a good time right now, and you cannot have enough of it, I
would like to suggest taking a moment aside and thanking God, because this,
too, is very much part of The Plan. Be grateful.

In fact, to each of his children, God has made promises, and as he sticks to his
plan, he shall fulfill in due time what he has promised. For he is faithful.