God is now a lot more “willing” than in the past

James 4:14-15 - Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”

This truth has been around for two Millenia, but it emerged as a life-verse over the last three years.

The reason is simple.

Lives were locked down.

Plans were cancelled.

Dreams were changed.

Everything went online. Quickly.

Now, everything is “God willing.”

The next season for a ministry.

The next sermon series.

The plans for next Sunday.

Everything is in the hands of God.

Now, post-Pandemic, more than ever in living memory.

Is this going to be the enduring spiritual legacy of COVID?

Is the uncertainty of the future the lesson we, as a church and community, needed to relearn?

When I was in ministry, I’m sure that I gave the “God willing” disclaimer for any plans I laid out.

Now, what was a back-of-the-mind mantra, has been thrust into the forefront of all our experiences.

The COVID pandemic reminded us all that James 4:14-15 is still very much truth.

I wonder how long it will take us until we return to our comfortable forward-planning?