God's Plan for You

Life is very interesting. The way life unfolds itself is interesting. Life does not unfold just logically, I realize. That's not how life unfolds. We cannot predict how your life will unfold in the future simply by relying on your understanding. That's not what life is. Life is very strange, but awesome, but unpredictable. But I look forward to the surprising aspect of life. Sometimes what we think is bad turns out to be good. Sometimes what we thought was a misfortune turns out to be a blessing. Myself, I pray for many things, thinking that they will be good for me. And looking back, I'm so glad that God did not answer some of my prayers. At that time I was for sure that that is good for me. But looking back, thank God that God did not answer that prayer. Like Josh, sometimes I ask God, why are these things happening to me? I don't see anything good in that. Why are these things happening to me? But surprisingly, some of those experiences did me good. Through those experiences I became very intimate with God. There was Joseph's life. So many things happened to Joseph that did not make sense. Not good things, a lot of bad things happened to him. And that did not make sense. And then Joseph did not deserve all the bad things that happened to him. It wasn't his fault. Joseph's brother was very jealous, were very jealous, and they hated Joseph. So they kind of excluded him. But not only that, they even tried to kill him. Oh, that's too much. Out of jealousy you want to kill your own brother? But jealousy is quite frightening. Cain killed Abel because of his jealousy. Joseph's brother were ready to do the same thing that Cain did to Abel. But somehow, instead of killing Joseph, they sold Joseph to merchants who were going to Egypt. In Egypt, Joseph worked really hard. In a foreign land, he had to make a living for himself. But good fortune did not seem to follow him. Somehow, strangely, it's worse to Joseph. His master's wife falsely accused him of sexual assault because she wanted him. And then Joseph did not agree with her. So Joseph went to prison. In prison, he happened to meet an official from the Ferris Court. And then Joseph helped him by interpreting his dream. And then told him, please remember me. But after he was freed and went back to the Ferris Court, he completely forgot about Joseph. One bad thing after another happened to him. My friends, somehow Joseph was very quiet. He didn't blame anyone. He didn't blame the situation. He didn't blame God. He was just calm. He was just observing what was going on in him. Why? Why was he so quiet? I think one sentence summarizes Joseph's life and Joseph's attitude towards life. He said, even though you intended to harm me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve numerous people as he's doing today. This one sentence summarizes whole of Joseph's life. Can you just leave it for now? I hope that this is also what you hold on to in your life. Joseph did not justify the evil things that his brothers did. Joseph clearly named their wrongdoing. You intended to do harm to me. What they did was wrong. That does not change simply because the outcome was good. But what is important was what Joseph said next. God intended it for good. All along, Joseph believed in a good God. Do you believe in a good God? And that good God is with you and helps you? All along, he believed that his circumstances could not overpower God's plan. His brother's evil deeds could not supersede God's plan. Underneath everything that is happening in your life, there is a flow. And what is that flow? That flow is a flow of God's plan. So do not look at just what is happening on the surface. Look deeper. Throw your net into the deep water and underneath you'll be able to see the flow of God's plan. I had my own plan. I had my own ambition. But that was not God's plan for me. When I first found the path that God had prepared for me, I was overjoyed. I understood the expression, walking on air. I was so happy. And then there was a robust library in the University of Toronto. There are stairs. And when I was walking up the stairs, I felt like I was flying. I was so happy. I didn't know what the future holds. I mean, I didn't know any minister at that time. I didn't know what it means to go into ministry. But so I was quite not, I was not sure could I make a living doing this. But at the same time, I was so happy. And at the same time, I wasn't so happy. I was so happy. And I was so happy. I knew that there was a plan greater than his own plan. And Solomon knew that too. Solomon said, the human mind plans the way, but the Lord directs the steps. Human mind plans the way, but the Lord directs the step. So it's not just your plan, but God will guide your step. every time. It is not I who determines the final ultimate destiny. It is not my circumstances that have the final say over my life. It is God who has the final say. What I will end up with it is God's plan. Not my own plan. Not my circumstances. It is God's plan that I will end there. That was what Saint Paul believed. We know that all things work together for good for those who love God who are called according to God's purpose. This year is 30th anniversary of this church. When I finished my ministry at TKPC, I said to myself, finally I'm free. Finally I'm free. I can do whatever I want it to do. What I wanted to do all this time, study. So I registered everything. I wanted to study. So I was free. I could do it. Some few people came to me and said there are a group of people, a small group of people who came out of United Church. Do you want to work with us? I mean it was not even a big church, just small number of people. I mean my church at that time was the English Congress of over 200 people and also a bigger church has called me, but somehow I was attracted to that ministry. I don't know why and my wife didn't understand why either. So I said yes. And that was 1992. And a few years later, North York Presbyterian Church people, some of them came to me and their minister just left and they said instead of calling another minister, we want to join your church. Would you like to do that? Welcome. That was 1996. That's why we have 30th anniversary today. It was not my plan. It was God's plan. God is a great plan for this church. Our task is to discern God's plan and obey. When the angel came to Mary, you'll have a child. That was not Mary's plan. It was very difficult for Mary to accept it. But she obeyed. She said, let it be with me according to your word. God has a wonderful plan for you, all of you. Nobody's born without God's plan. God's plan for you is good. He plans for good. And Jeremiah said this, for surely I know the plans I have for you says the Lord plans for your welfare and not for harm. To give you a future with hope. Yes. That's God's plan for you. God plans for good, not disaster. Welfare. And then Jeremiah said this, then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me, you'll find me. You come and search, you'll find the plan that I have for you. So do not be anxious when things are not going very well. Do not be discouraged because your plan is not working out very well. God has a plan for you. And God's plan will make its way through hardships, challenges, and difficulties. God's plan has its own way, even though we see hopeless situation that through their hopeless situation, God's plan will make its way. Find a way. Joseph believed this throughout his life. That was why he was able to forgive his brothers. Because their evil deeds could not alter God's plan. They threw him into the pit, but they could not throw away God's plan that God has for Joseph. Forgiveness is possible when you see a bigger picture. What others have done to you may hurt you. Wound your soul. Sometimes what the evil they did even alter the course of your life. Yes, that is possible. But what they did can never destroy God's plan for you. Even though life did not turn out as you wish, but somehow it will go back because God has planned for you. Trust in that plan of God. Every day, trust in God's goodness, then ultimately your life will turn to place that God has prepared for you. Like coming home. You will come home. Joseph could look at his brothers and say, you intended to harm me, but God intended it for good. So don't worry. Do not fear. I'll take care of you and your children. When you believe in God's goodness, then you can become generous. You can open up. Because you're not trying to control your life. You let it be. You let God work in your life. Don't try to control so much. You ruin your life. Let it be. Let God. And then you will see a wonderful plan of God unfolding in your life. Live your life. Believe in God's good plan for you. Let your life become a testimony. This is how God has done in my life. It's my testimony. It's not my excellence. It's not my capability. But somehow God's plan worked out. And I am who I am. This is where I am. The ultimate answer of your life. God has.