How can I trust God with my future plans?

In “If the Lord Wills,” Pastor Chris Jessee opens James 4:13–17 and addresses the pride that can hide inside ordinary plans. Planning is wise, yet our plans become idols when we speak as though tomorrow belongs to us. James reminds us that life is a mist and calls us to a humble posture: “If the Lord wills.”

That posture reaches deeper than a phrase. It means bringing real decisions to Jesus, receiving success as a gift, trusting God when plans collapse, and acting on what he has already made clear. This message offers hope for anyone carrying anxiety about the future, facing an unexpected change, or delaying a step of obedience. Jesus obeyed perfectly, bore the guilt of our pride at the cross, rose again, and gives his Spirit to help us live with humble confidence. Because Christ holds tomorrow, we can make plans, release outcomes, and obey God today.

Key Takeaways

• Bring your calendar, decisions, and hopes to God in honest prayer.
• Hold outcomes with open hands because your future rests under God’s care.
• Take one concrete step of obedience instead of delaying what Scripture has made clear.
• Find your security in Jesus Christ, whose grace frees you from controlling tomorrow.