Meant to Be

I know a lot of people who like to say, "If it's meant to be, it will happen." My Mom is one of them. That phrase used to drive me crazy. When I'm at a crossroads in my life, I want to take charge and do something, not wait around and see what will happen. However, as I grow older (and hopefully wiser) I'm learning that life isn't a black and white spectrum where I must be either subjugated to God's will in every tiny aspect of my life or completely independent with total control over my own life. The truth is that God and I share control—and responsibility—for my destiny. What's meant to be will only happen when I do my part and allow God to do His.

I've never really understood predestination arguments, because if my life is already decided, what's the point of me living it? God wants me to live (in a real world where I get to make real choices) and to use this experience to learn about Him and about what it means to be His beloved creation. Still, I can't set good goals for myself and ensure their completion all on my own. That's why I do need—and want—God's participation in my life. I can't single-handedly give myself the power to be the best version of myself. Luckily, I have God as an ally. He can work behind the scenes to help my plans succeed, and that's what my Mom means when she says that "if it's meant to be, it will happen." With God behind my plan, my best efforts are bound to be good enough. God may not always choose to get behind my plans, but I can count on Him to be working for my greater good in other ways. If this particular endeavor isn't meant to be, then God will have something else in store for me.

Just last week I put my house up for sale. Only a few days after I posted the ad, someone called and came to look at it. I started wondering if this was a sign that God was helping me sell my house. I don't really know yet if this plan is meant to be or not. As it is, I will do my best to sell my house because I think that's what's best for my husband and me right now. But at the same time, I don't have to worry so much about whether or not I succeed, because God's going to take care of me no matter what. If God agrees that selling my house is essential for me right now, then He'll do what He can to make it happen, but if my house doesn't sell, God will help me find another solution instead. God and I are partners in my life, and whether my plans succeed or fail, God is working with me to help things turn out the way they should.

Ultimately, I am meant to be in Heaven, but that's not going to happen just because it's in God's plan. I  have to cooperate with God's plan by accepting His freely-offered grace. Likewise, I can't just make all of my plans turn out the way I want them to. I need God to bless my plans and to lead me to a better plan when mine is inadequate. I've found that when God and I have a healthy partnership, everything in my life ends up the way it's meant to be, regardless of how my plans turn out.