The Creek Don't Rise

James 4:13-17

I try to make it a habit of saying, “God willing.” I know a lot of people will use the folksy saying, “Lord willing and the creek don’t rise,” as a way of saying they will do something or go somewhere unless something hinders them. Of course, it makes no sense to add the bit about the creek rising.

I use “God willing,” because I try to keep it more sincere and less folksy and because I have learned that what James admonishes in this text is true. Life is short and unpredictable. We don’t know what will happen tomorrow, let alone next year.

We can and should plan. If you don’t plan you live a disorganized and unproductive life. But in our planning, we need to leave room for God’s disruptions. To do otherwise is arrogant and boastful. What I’m not suggesting, and I don’t think James was either, is that we have to do this as some kind of law. This is an attitude as much as it is an action.

Nevertheless, saying it at times isn’t a bad idea either. It is a good self-reminder and an opportunity to acknowledge God’s sovereignty over life to other people too.