“Everyone has a plan until they get hit.” That’s a quote from the famous boxer, Mike Tyson. It’s actually a pretty smart statement. We many times think we know what to do in a given situation. However, when that situation arises it can present us with more difficulties than anticipated.
This statement reflects the reality of how facing an anticipated situation can be much different than just planning for it. Sometimes we get a false sense of security in planning for a situation. We think to ourselves, “OK, I got this. I know exactly what I’m going to do.” Then we get to the time to implement our plan and we get shaken, or knocked off our feet. I think what that statement best illustrates is how living life is much different than planning for it. And that’s not to say anything against planning. Planning is good. It’s just that planning alone is much different than actually implementing that plan. Often times our best laid plans fall apart at the first sign of difficulty.
The power and impact of a metaphorical punch in the face is never what we expect it to be. The thing is, if all we had to do was plan, our success would be virtually guaranteed. Implementation of that plan is just as important as the plan itself. We all know the reality of this when we plan a family vacation. We plan to leave at a certain time. But how often does that happen? If your vacation involves air travel, well, that introduces another set of difficulties entirely beyond your control. The flight delays, cancelled flights, lost luggage, etc. introduce new scenarios that can be difficult to anticipate.
Probably one of the most important things we can do is to expect the unexpected. Often times when we think we have something fully in hand we are setting ourselves up for failure. We should be confident in our plan, but still recognize the realities of life. I would call this ‘knowing what we don’t know.’ It just means that you are aware ahead of time of the difficulties any given situation can present.
I guess what this quote also suggests is, “How much can we endure?” How much can we actually take when we’re in that moment and we face something we never thought of, or couldn’t anticipate? Are we going to keep standing, or crumple up into a ball of fear and raise the white flag? Having a persistence and ‘grit’ to stick it out are also going to be of critical importance. We can’t allow the pressure we’re under to cause us to fold. Anticipate difficulties, but with the attitude that, “Yeah, I may face some trouble, but I’m not going to let it derail me from my plan.” So, I guess the question is, “When I get hit, will I still be able, and have the fortitude, to see it through?”
I believe having a clear view and understanding of the situations we face are key to being successful in life. We can’t have an unrealistic view of life and just expect everything will work out without some work. We also can’t be so negative that we think nothing will ever work out.
AV 1 Corinthians 10:12: “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” If we’re going to face the difficulties of life with any sort of success, we have to start with an accurate understanding of ourselves and the situation. If we think more of ourselves than we ought, we set ourselves up for failure. We need to properly know and understand our strengths and weaknesses. This gives us solid ground and a firm foundation for us to face difficulties.
AV Proverbs 16:9: “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.” Another thing we need to recognize is frailty of our own plans. We not only need to plan, but allow for the possibility for those plans to change. First of all, our plans need to be subject to God’s authority. We don’t just go about our fully planned out day, without allowing room for God to make changes to our plans. This is also crucial to our success. Having God involved in our plans shows wisdom and humility on our part.
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AV Proverbs 24:10: “[If] thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength [is] small.” Like I mentioned earlier, we need to have strength when we face these things we can’t anticipate. We can’t fold under the pressure. This verse indicates something that adversity does for us. It gives us an accurate measure of how much we can take.
AV Col 1:11: “Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;” I believe what we need, when under pressure, is strength and endurance. But that strength and endurance needs to based and rooted in Him. Not only does adversity give us an accurate measure of our strength, but an accurate measure of ours strength in Him. We know when we are facing a series of failures in our life that we need to become stronger in Him.
AV Micah 7:8: “Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD [shall be] a light unto me.” Finally, we need to be confident that we can overcome. And we need to be confident that God has given us the ability to overcome and be successful. This verse is a verse of boldness and confidence. It’s saying, “Things may look like a mess right now, I may look like I’m down for the count. But don’t get excited thinking that you’ve beat me. It’s not over, and I’m not done. God is in this fight with me. And He’s going to see me through the darkness.”
AV 1 Corinthians 10:12: “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”
AV Proverbs 16:9: “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.”
AV Proverbs 24:10: “[If] thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength [is] small.”
AV Micah 7:8: “Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD [shall be] a light unto me.”
AV Col 1:11: “Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;”