Thinking about Tomorrow

“Do not boast about tomorrow,
For you do not know what a day may bring forth.” (Proverbs 27:1)

If you think you are in control of anything, think about tomorrow. For that matter, think about yesterday. You cannot change the past—as much as you sometimes wish you could—and you have absolutely no control over the future. You do not know what that next day, next year, not even the next moment, will bring forth. A man’s heart may well plan his way, but there is Another who directs his every step (Proverbs 16:9). Not we, but only He not only knows the future but has it completely in His control—for His glory and our good.

If that is a scary thought to any of us, that is because we are still far too jealous for control in our lives. But if it is God’s will we truly want, and if it is God alone in whom we trust (as our money still says), and if we believe God has been good to us thus far, then we will lay down any claim we have to power or control or manipulation of events and gladly anticipate and receive with joy whatever it is He has coming down the pike for us. Think about it: Do you really trust yourself that much, I mean, to orchestrate future events, even if only for yourself? Talk about scary thoughts!

Trusting in God this way for our future comes from the same sort of heart that gives thanks for all the past. Whatever God has done is good. Whatever. If it had not been for God’s mercy and grace and providence and wisdom entirely driving and covering all things that have come to pass—it is unthinkable, of course. Could you have done better? Again, we sometimes think we could have, but honesty requires us to lay that one down too. Best to leave it all in God’s hands—past, present, and future.

None of this means we are to be passive, of course. One of the things God does is work in us “to will and to do for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13) We are called upon by this sovereign God to will things, to will His will, if you will—to desire and determine and decide what it is God desires from us. And we are then equally called upon to do it. But our doing it will be much closer to the kind of doing God desires the closer we are to the kind of people who trust in a God who is in complete control of everything—most especially the tomorrow in which we plan to do the pleasure of God.

No boasting in tomorrow but only trusting in the God who holds it. No “living in the past” but only the giving of thanks for all the good God has done in it.

“Lord God, You are the one who performs all things, and You perform all things well. We do not know what tomorrow holds, but we know You know, and we know You have planned it perfectly for our good and for Your pleasure. We give thanks to You this day for all things past, for all the wonders You have performed, for Your careful and gracious design, and we give thanks for all things future, trusting and knowing You will do all things well. Help us in our planning and doing to desire and to do Your will; guide us by Your Holy Spirit in every step that we might perform Your holy will. We pray in Christ’s name. Amen.”