Present with God: In my Better Plan

Peter took [Jesus] aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” -Matthew 16:22

Jesus had just made clear to his disciples the path he must walk through Jerusalem and to the cross. This picture of Jesus’ arrest, torture, and execution is too much for Peter to process. He rejects Jesus’ plan and erupts in a full-throated rebuke of Jesus for even considering such a scenario. Showing a complete lack of self-awareness, he calls Jesus “Lord” and then tells him that he doesn’t know what he’s talking about.

I love Peter because I so often see my own brokenness in him. It’s comforting to see such vulnerable honesty about the failings of a man so vital to Jesus’ ministry and the beginnings of the Church. I love the picture of Peter, pulling Jesus aside, to “set him straight.” Peter is so desperate to preserve the future-Jesus that he expected, that he is willing to reject and rebuke the present-Jesus standing right in front of him.

There are times when I feel similarly conflicted in my following with Jesus. When the shocks and disappointments of life reveal that God’s plan was obviously not what I thought it was going to be, I want to pull God aside to educate him on how he’s messing up my pretty little universe. God’s plans often require detours from the routes that we have mapped out.

When we feel that deep pull of fear or discouragement is the very time we need to draw closer to God. By making ourselves mindfully aware of his presence, we can be reminded of who he is and who we are. By making intentional space to connect with him, we can be comforted by the reality that he is working in a million ways we will never fully understand. By resting in his presence we see that our role isn’t to define or bring about our desired future but to seek fellowship with him and respond in faithfulness to him in this present moment.

There is nothing wrong with sharing with God our disappointment and our confusion about what he is doing. When God’s plan for our lives veers wildly from what we expected, we must be honest with him about our feelings and our fears. But we will only find peace with God’s plan when we seek a submitted and humble intimacy with him.

Be Present with God

Make some time to be present with God. Be honest with him about any fears of frustrations you have about the path he has you on. Confess to him the times that you have tried to rebuke him or show him the “right” path for your life. Ask him to make his presence obvious to you and to give you confidence that he is leading you, protecting you and providing his best future for you. Ask him to give you the ability to submit your desires to him and joyfully accept his plan for your life. Thank him for the way he has made you aware of his presence during this time.