It is better to be quiet and thought a fool than open your mouth and remove all doubt. In Biblical terms it is written in Prov 17:28, “Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.” Those sentences are for me…
Have you ever planned to do something… thought through it… prayed about it… planned to follow through (God willing)… and then God prevents you from doing what you had planned? Maybe not… but I think that’s what happened to me recently. And it is humbling indeed…
I had been scheduled to speak this week and was given the freedom to choose any topic or text I wanted. The topic I landed upon has been being working in and through me for weeks and I had a burden to speak about it. Granted, it was a topic that could be controversial depending on your perspective. I knew it would need to be handled with great care and caution. But I was sure this was a good time and chance to present my thoughts.
So I wrote it out. Mulled it over and over in my mind. Then… the day before I was to speak I came down sick. Very sick. Upper and lower GI sick if you get my drift. I was literally put to bed for three days. Needless to say I was unable to speak to the group which of course kept me from speaking about what I would have spoken on.
The morning I had been scheduled to speak I got a clear message from… I believe… the Lord. The message was, “Trust me. I’m protecting you this time. You may have thought it was proper, so I put you to bed to keep you from messing up royally.” No, I didn’t hear God’s voice literally, but it was close enough.
Lesson: The phrase, “God willing” is sometimes worked into our lives by God Himself. So when your plans go awry or don’t happen as you wanted… trust that God was indeed protecting you! Lesson: Just because you can say something doesn’t mean you should. Lesson: There are sometimes God uses sickness, illness, or circumstances to protect us from ourselves. When that happens, don’t get angry, thank Him.
Lord… THANK YOU!
Ron, God is Almighty! He is what keeps us going every day. Sometimes the thoughts we have and the pressures we are under are more than we can handle and He immediately sees that. I thank Him every day for allowing me to awaken and every evening I thank him for another day. He has most assuredly blessed you with the type Pastor you are and He knows what is best for all of us. Hope you have recovered and have a blessed day. Thank you for sharing these moments with me.
Sorry you were so sick, but I get your drift from what you have written. I have learned so much in that area since I lost Mom and have had time to settle down, relax, pray about what God wants me to do from here on out with my life. This was a good thing for me to read today! Thank you so much.