Bible Verses: Jeremiah 29:11, Proverbs 3:5-6, Matthew
6:26-30
The last week or so has been pretty difficult. It’s been a time of contemplation, and of resolve. Resolve. I guess sometimes we can confuse stubbornness for resolve, and we need to be able to discern between the two.
When does resolve turn into being stubborn? Is there even a difference?
Maybe I should take a minute to give my distinction. And then, if I’m wrong, somebody can resolve to tell me so and I’ll stubbornly tell them that they’re wrong.
To be stubborn, in my mind, you have to have an extra special kind of dumb. That’s not to say that I’ve never been stubborn (I’ve never claimed to not have extra-special dumbness), but it’s not an attribute that I enjoy, or intend to pursue. Stubbornness is kind of like being insane. There’s a quote which is often attributed to Albert Einstein (or Benjamin Franklin, or Mark Twain) that goes like this, “the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” Or, something like that. None of the people listed above probably ever said this, and we can debate until the cows come how if “insanity” is a term we should be using (really, where do these cows go that they’re getting home at such a late hour…), but I think that we can agree that this quote pretty much perfectly describes “stubbornness.” Stubbornness is doing the same thing over and over because you know you’re right and expecting something to be different this time because it’s the only way you know to go about things.
So what makes resolve any different? When you have resolve, you have an outcome in mind and you fight to get to that outcome. But, when you go about getting to the desired result in a way which doesn’t work, you change up what you’re doing the next time you try. Why? Because you have resolve and you want to accomplish your mission!
So what does this all mean? God has a plan for our lives (Jer 29:11) and you can keep trying to figure out your own way to get there, even when it’s obviously not working (stubbornness), but God has resolve and He is willing to wait through our stubbornness, placing things in our path which eventually lead us down the path which He had originally intended, so that we can eventually get to His intended outcome for our lives. Was that a little too neat and tidy? Too bad, because I was told that cleanliness is next to Godliness. Actually, that’s another quote which I’m not so sure of who it should be attributed to so maybe I’ll talk about that one some other time…
But, the key lesson here, is to seek your path through God’s word (Prov 3:5-6). Don’t over think all of it (Mat 6:26-30). Trust in Yahweh and His omniscient ability to get you where you’re supposed to be, and you will get there.
I know, easier said than done, but I may as well give it a try, at least…
For I know the plans that I am planning concerning you,’ declares Yahweh, ‘plans for prosperity and not for harm to give to you a future and a hope.’ (Jer 29:11 LEB)
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. (Pro 3:5-6 NKJV)
Look at the birds of the sky: They don't sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren't you worth more than they? Can any of you add a single cubit to his height by worrying? And why do you worry about clothes? Learn how the wildflowers of the field grow: they don't labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these! If that's how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won't He do much more for you -- you of little faith? (Mat 6:26-30 HCSB)
The last week or so has been pretty difficult. It’s been a time of contemplation, and of resolve. Resolve. I guess sometimes we can confuse stubbornness for resolve, and we need to be able to discern between the two.
When does resolve turn into being stubborn? Is there even a difference?
Maybe I should take a minute to give my distinction. And then, if I’m wrong, somebody can resolve to tell me so and I’ll stubbornly tell them that they’re wrong.
To be stubborn, in my mind, you have to have an extra special kind of dumb. That’s not to say that I’ve never been stubborn (I’ve never claimed to not have extra-special dumbness), but it’s not an attribute that I enjoy, or intend to pursue. Stubbornness is kind of like being insane. There’s a quote which is often attributed to Albert Einstein (or Benjamin Franklin, or Mark Twain) that goes like this, “the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” Or, something like that. None of the people listed above probably ever said this, and we can debate until the cows come how if “insanity” is a term we should be using (really, where do these cows go that they’re getting home at such a late hour…), but I think that we can agree that this quote pretty much perfectly describes “stubbornness.” Stubbornness is doing the same thing over and over because you know you’re right and expecting something to be different this time because it’s the only way you know to go about things.
So what makes resolve any different? When you have resolve, you have an outcome in mind and you fight to get to that outcome. But, when you go about getting to the desired result in a way which doesn’t work, you change up what you’re doing the next time you try. Why? Because you have resolve and you want to accomplish your mission!
So what does this all mean? God has a plan for our lives (Jer 29:11) and you can keep trying to figure out your own way to get there, even when it’s obviously not working (stubbornness), but God has resolve and He is willing to wait through our stubbornness, placing things in our path which eventually lead us down the path which He had originally intended, so that we can eventually get to His intended outcome for our lives. Was that a little too neat and tidy? Too bad, because I was told that cleanliness is next to Godliness. Actually, that’s another quote which I’m not so sure of who it should be attributed to so maybe I’ll talk about that one some other time…
But, the key lesson here, is to seek your path through God’s word (Prov 3:5-6). Don’t over think all of it (Mat 6:26-30). Trust in Yahweh and His omniscient ability to get you where you’re supposed to be, and you will get there.
I know, easier said than done, but I may as well give it a try, at least…
For I know the plans that I am planning concerning you,’ declares Yahweh, ‘plans for prosperity and not for harm to give to you a future and a hope.’ (Jer 29:11 LEB)
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. (Pro 3:5-6 NKJV)
Look at the birds of the sky: They don't sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren't you worth more than they? Can any of you add a single cubit to his height by worrying? And why do you worry about clothes? Learn how the wildflowers of the field grow: they don't labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these! If that's how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won't He do much more for you -- you of little faith? (Mat 6:26-30 HCSB)
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