Some of you may remember the sermon series from a couple of years ago called ‘Plan B.’ For many, it was a series that hit them right where they were at; for others, it was an uncomfortable time because it reminded them of where they’d been before—in the midst of a time of life they didn’t plan on! I probably don’t have to even say this today, but I’VE BEEN LIVING THROUGH PLAN Bs IN MY LIFE FOR THE PAST YEAR…
-
On January 4 of last year, I had quadruple bypass surgery … then spent several months of recovery after that…
-
At about the 9 month recovery mark (and the doctors tell you that it usually takes up to a year to fully recover from bypass surgery), I took a fall at home and broke my neck, the results of that still obvious today … and my recovery from that continues…
What am I saying? Like never before in my life, I know what PLAN Bs are all about! And I was reminded of that when I received a Christmas present from a friend this year that I’d like to show you (show the Plan B mug). On the front it says, “Life is all about how you handle Plan B.” And then on the back, it explains this a little bit more:
Plan A is always my first choice.
You know, the one where
everything works out to be
happily ever after.
But more often than not,
I find myself dealing with
the upside-down, inside-out version
where nothing goes as it should.
It’s at this point the real test
of my character comes in…
Do I sink or do I swim?
Do I wallow in self-pity
& play the victim or do I shift gears
and make the best of the situation?
The choice is mine.
After all … Life is all about
how you handle Plan B.
Not only was this an appropriate gift and a beautifully written sentiment, but I believe the truths expressed here are also biblical. One of my heroes of the faith, the Apostle Paul, also had some times of his life that were Plan Bs. Yes, he had plenty of times in his life he could have bragged about, too, but those times were God working through him, so he wouldn’t brag about those. But, here’s what he would brag about; just listen (2 Corinthians 12:1-10, NLT)…
“This boasting will do no good, but I must go on. I will reluctantly tell about visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether I was in my body or out of my body, I don’t know—only God knows. 3 Yes, only God knows whether I was in my body or outside my body. But I do know 4 that I was caught up to paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell. 5 That experience is worth boasting about, but I’m not going to do it. I will boast only about my weaknesses. 6 If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message, 7 even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. 8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me [italics mine]. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Folks, very much like the Apostle Paul, I too know God’s grace in my life … especially in the midst of my Plan Bs—my times of weakness. I’VE SEEN THE STRENGTH OF GOD IN THE MIDST OF ONE OF THE WEAKEST TIMES OF MY LIFE! I think this is what Paul was talking about (v. 10): “That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak [for whatever reason], then I am strong.”
During this time, I’ve experienced the power of God like never before in my life. And as I’ve shared with several people, I believe God’s allowed me time flat on my back (so to speak), so that God could speak to me … to know God better and so God could teach me some things that he couldn’t while I was ‘on the run.’ Folks, here are some of those things I’ve learned—what I want to share with you today:
GOD TAUGHT ME … THAT I DON’T ALWAYS NEED AN ANSWER TO THE QUESTION ‘WHY?’ OR ‘WHY ME?’ As I was laying there in I.C.U. after my surgery, most of my visits were from clergy colleagues. One of those was the Rev. Jane Folmer-Zekoff, our Madison-area chaplain. I was pouring my heart out to her, basically asking her ‘why me?’ Why, after already having to go through heart surgery earlier this year, have I now had to endure this accident, a broken neck, and surgery to correct it? ‘Why me?’ And why both surgeries?
Chaplain Zekoff enlightened me. And, as I was laying there in I.C.U. wondering about all that had taken place and if any of it made sense, she brought some light to bear on at least a part of my experience. She said, “Rom, I thought you would have figured this part out by now. Don’t you know that if you hadn’t had the heart surgery earlier this year, you probably would not have lived through this one?” Wow. Suddenly, the lights went on. Suddenly, I began to understand God’s love for me. I didn’t have to have an answer to the ‘why’ or ‘why me’ questions; it was all about me being prepared for what God knew was ahead … and I didn’t… I didn’t have to understand; but I did have to learn to trust…
Folks, why are we so surprised when things happen to us in this world? Do you remember what Jesus said in John 16:33 (MSG)? “I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.” In other words, stuff if going to happen. We live in a fallen world. It’s not the perfect place God planned for us. It’s the world that’s the result of sin entering in. And this is the world that you and I are born into. But, by God’s grace (and we have to come to recognize that grace, that love for us) … we can ‘take heart!’ By God’s grace … now, I know that I don’t have to have the answer to ‘why me’! In faith, I can trust God for where I’m at and what God wants to accomplish through this time… So, after I got past the ‘why me’ stage, here’s what else I learned…
GOD TAUGHT ME THAT, WHEN IN THE MIDST OF A PLAN B, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO DO IS TURN TO HIM! “Get your eyes off of YOU and get them on me,” is essentially what God was saying! If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that God’s grace becomes more and more real to us when WE more and more turn to God at all times—especially in times of crisis. And what we’re talking about here is really worship (turning to God = worship)…
• How do you worship God every day?
• What devotional or Bible reading plan are you using this year?
• Where’s your prayer life at? Have you broken the two-minute barrier this year?
• What does your ‘turning to God’ look like in your life?
I went through some days of depression. Those who do not know Christ usually turn inward … and things get worse. But those of us who are People of Grace turn toward heaven … and, by God’s grace, we are given the courage and the strength to get through our days—no matter if they make sense or not. That’s not the most important thing. The most important thing at times like this is, are we still loved? And, folks, God will let you know beyond a doubt that he does …as you learn to turn toward him! In turning toward God during this Plan B, I was then reminded of this—given this gift…
GOD TAUGHT ME ONCE AGAIN THAT THERE’S A HUGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HAPPINESS AND JOY! Joy is a characteristic of all who walk the road of faith. Sourness is not a fruit of the Spirit. Joy is! Sometimes people mistake happiness or worldly pleasures for the Joy that is to be found only in a relationship with God. But, here’s the difference. Christian Joy is completely independent of circumstances. Happiness or pleasures come and go. But the Joy of the Lord is constant. The smile of Joy (unlike happiness) is not just on the lips, but also in the heart…
By God’s grace, even going through a second Plan B this past year, I was able to experience the Joy of God in my life, regardless of my circumstances. When we walk with God, Joy (not happiness, but Joy) always comes in the morning…
I truly believe that it’s only BY GOD’S GRACE that I am here with you today. And throughout this whole ordeal I’ve been going through, I’ve learned to depend on that grace—to depend on God for the courage to face every single day … and for the strength to get through every day of a second rehabilitation. In spite of all of this, I’ve learned what God’s grace is all about. I know that the courage and strength needed to face every day comes from the One who is able to give it—able to supply my every need. God’s presence is with me; God’s grace is with me… How ‘bout you?
For the next few weeks, leading up to the season of Lent, I’ll be sharing with you short messages on what it means to be ‘People of Grace’. What do they look like? And are they us?