Fruitless Fantasies

“But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I  thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.”

(2Kgs. 5:11-12)

In the above story we see things didn’t go the way Naaman thought they would. Those of us who have some years chalked up to us can testify they usually do not. Reality rarely matches the ideal.  Therefore, we need to learn as the old adage used by the boxing professionals goes, to “roll with the punches.” If we do not, like Naaman, we may end up in a stew.

I remember, when just a boy, how the girls would see a large flock of innumerable birds flying overhead and would point and say, “There goes my wedding.” But most, if not all, never saw the fruit of their youthful imagery. And so it was with us boys, though in a different vein. For some, reality set in early in life; with others, it came later. But sooner or later, all had their idealistic bubbles burst.

If we are to overcome the anxieties and frustrations of a pre-planned life, on our part it is necessary, before God, to recognize and surrender to His predestined plan for us. It is to be found in the Word of God and on our knees in prayer. It is a day by day thing, trusting Him to lead moment by moment. Refuse to conjure up any thought about how your life will be lived.

We are to live by faith, not fantasies!