The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD. -Proverbs 16:1
The end of something is always a time for reflection. The end of the school year is a time for celebrating. The student, parent and teacher alike celebrate. But celebration (and the relief of grading being done!) gives way to reflection. The last days or even months on a job can be a time for wrestling. The end of life finally affords the time to analyze decisions we hastily made years ago.
Regret is a common feeling in these moments. Whether it is simply spending another Summer day inside, or looking at an endless forest or stars on precious days away in the mountains, regrets flood the mind; worry works its way in.
Regret is powerful because it forces us to confront the reality that life is a zero-sum game. There is only so much time and we have to spend it somehow. We may question why we didn’t apply ourselves harder. We may question why we didn’t spend more time with our kids or friends and stayed late at the office instead.
Reflection on regret often shapes our behavior going forward. We may experience intense guilt over decisions we made that we knew were wrong - sinful. We may be paralyzed in the face of an uncertain future. Regret causes us to question our decision making abilities. Regret could drive us into intense speculation and cost benefit analysis on how to spend our time. Worse yet is the realization that there might not be more we can do.
The Bible is rich in language about the human heart. The heart is the seat of desire. Humans desire all kinds of things but we may especially desire more time or time for a do over. These plans of the hearts belong to man, Proverbs tells us. Proverbs, one of the wisdom books in the Bible, gives us an additional thought, “the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.” This seems like an unlikely way to the thought, “the plans of the heart belong to man”. Heart and tongue are different body parts. God and man are different. I think the key comes in considering the difference between plans and speech. Plans are full of potential. Speech is occurring in the present. Plans are something we dream up. Sometimes we are called to speak. Sometimes we must simply act in a moment.
Will we have regrets about what we say? Maybe, probably, when we consider the zero-sum nature of time. Nevertheless, the answer is from the LORD. He who made heaven and earth has put you on the earth for this time. The most common question I get is, “pastor, why am I still here?” Often it is an older adult asking the question. But, it is also a question the middle aged person and even the young person asks from time to time. The answer is, “you are still here for the reason that God put you here in the first place: to do His work wherever we are, in accordance with whatever gifts and abilities he has given us.” This work or action might be as simple as a spoken word. It might be spoken to a nurse or a child. It might be the person we go out of our way to see. The beautiful thing about God is that he has eternity and he is merciful. These traits give us the confidence to act. When given endless time and endless goodness, God will not leave our deeds, His plans, unanswered.
May God be with you in all your thoughts and deeds this Summer.
In Jesus Service,
Pastor Kurt