“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.
～Isaiah 55:8 (NIV)～
Life is full of unexpected interruptions. We all had plans for 2020 – vacations, family, career, and ministry – God has taken us in a different direction.
In my family, we hit several milestones: my mom turned 90 and my wife and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary. We had a wonderful anniversary trip planned and a big celebration for mom, both cancelled. When our plans and God’s plans don’t match up, we get frustrated and angry.
Jonah learned the hard way when God’s plans and his plans didn’t match. God told Jonah to warn the people of Nineveh that they needed to repent from their evil ways. But Jonah ran from God and ended up in the belly of a big fish, so God had to rescue him. Jonah then did what God had said to do, but when the people of Nineveh repented and God didn’t punish them, Jonah became greatly displeased and angry.
How did God respond to Jonah’s anger? He caused a vine to grow large enough to ease Jonah’s discomfort in the blazing heat of the day. Then God sent a worm to attack the plant and kill it. The next day, as the scorching east wind and the sun blazed down on Jonah’s head, he expressed his anger and frustration to God.
And that’s when God reminded Jonah of four truths to remember when God’s plans differ from ours.
1. God can see things you can’t.
2. God is good to you even when you’re angry at Him. He loves you even when you’re unlovable.
3. God is in control of every detail of your life. Your plans don’t fail randomly. God has a purpose in everything in your life.
4. God wants you to focus on what will last. Most of what worries you won’t be around tomorrow. God wanted Jonah to care about the salvation of the people of Nineveh, not a plant that would die the next day. Above all else, focus on getting God’s Word into the heart of the lost.
Just because your plans aren’t turning out the way you want doesn’t mean God isn’t intimately involved in every step. God is in control even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ask God to help you see His hand in your broken plans, and trust Him in His goodness as He shows you the way forward.
耶和華說：「我的意念非同你們的意念；我的道路非同你們的道路。」
～賽55:8～
生活充滿了意想不到的變數。我們每個人都有2020年的計劃─旅遊、家庭、事業和事工─上帝對我們卻有不同的帶領。
我家今年進入了幾個里程碑：母親90歲、師母與我結婚30週年。我們計劃了精彩的週年紀念旅行，並籌畫為母親慶祝90大壽，但都不得不取消。當我們的計劃與上帝的計劃不同時，我們會感到沮喪和憤怒。
當上帝的計劃與自己的計劃不符時，約拿學到了慘痛的教訓。上帝告訴約拿去警告尼尼微百姓認罪悔改。但約拿卻躲避上帝，最終身陷大魚的肚子，因此上帝不得不拯救他。然後約拿按照上帝所說的去做，但是當尼尼微百姓悔改而上帝沒有懲罰他們時，約拿變得極度不滿和生氣。
上帝對約拿的憤怒有何反應？祂使蓖麻藤長大，減輕約拿在烈日下的苦楚。然後上帝派蟲子咬死蓖麻藤。第二天，在炎熱的東風和日頭曝曬約拿的頭，約拿向神生氣，十分沮喪。
當上帝的計劃與我們的計劃不同的時候，要記住四個真理:
1. 上帝能看到你看不到的。
2. 即使你對上帝生氣，上帝仍是美善的。即使你不可愛，祂仍愛你。
3. 上帝掌管你生活的每一個細節。你的計劃不會無緣無故失敗，上帝在你生活中的每一件事都有祂的美意。
4. 上帝希望你注目永恆的事物。你擔憂的事明天可能就煙消雲散了。上帝希望約拿關心尼尼微百姓的救恩，而不是第二天就要死的植物。最重要的是，專注於將神的話語帶入迷失者的心中。
雖然你不能按照自己想要的方式進行原本的計劃，但這並不表示上帝沒有與你同行。即使在COVID-19大流行期間，上帝仍然掌權。在你被打亂的計畫中，求上帝幫助你看到祂的手，並相信祂的美善，祂會向你指示前進的方向。
～ Rev. Jireh Lin 林以勒牧師～