Pastor's Blog

This morning we continued our series with Frank Capra’s classic It’s A Wonderful Life, perhaps the most iconic of all Christmas movies. The movie was the first for both Capra and Jimmy Stewart following their service in WWII. It was not a smash hit when it was originally released, and didn’t become a cultural phenomenon until the 1970’s when the copyright lapsed and every television station in the country aired it continually during the Christmas season. It is now considered by many to be one of the greatest American films.

The “everyman” of the story is George Bailey, a young man with big dreams and a big heart. He never reaches any of his great goals. At every turn, his plans are thwarted. This is what makes him “everyman,” for every one of us has had plans in life that have not panned out. In fact, it is doubtful that anyone’s life turns out exactly as they plan it. The key for everyone is to learn how to handle those moments of disappointment.

We find helpful instructions from God in Jeremiah chapter 29. Here the people of Judea find all their hopes and plans crushed as they find themselves in captivity in Babylon. Through the prophet Jeremiah God instructs them and us how to handle disappointment when plans collapse.

1. Be content and diligent in the situation where God has placed you
   This is George Bailey’s great strength. Despite his disappointment, he diligently tries to accomplish what he can in whatever situation he finds himself. He may not always be content, but he does not idly wait for a better situation to arrive. This is what God commands His people in captivity in v5-6, that they should be diligent and not become idle. When our plans fail the temptation is to sulk and do as little as possible as we wait for a better situation to come along. We must resist this temptation and continue to be diligent, understanding that we are working for the Lord in all things.
   
2. Seek to be a blessing to those around you.
   Once again, George Bailey provides a great example. He consistently lives a life of self-sacrifice, giving of himself for the benefit of others. God also commands the Judeans in Babylon to be a blessing to those around them. This is no easy task, since these people are in captivity in the land of the very people who conquered them. Here we find an echo of Christ’s command to love our enemies. When our plans fail we are tempted to focus all our energies inward, but we must continue to seek to do good to all men, despite our disappointment.
   
3. Be careful who you listen to
   George’s despair was fueled by his frustration that others (like his brother and Sam Wainwright) had achieved what he believed was his destiny. When we listen to the voices of our culture telling us what we should expect from our lives, we magnify the disappointment we feel when our plans fail. Many times those claiming to speak for God actually reinforce the standards of our culture rather than point us to God. Like the captives in Babylon, we must ignore those voices and find our significance in God’s purposes for us, which are found only through prayer and studying His word for ourselves.
   
4. Make knowing God your highest priority
   This is where George Bailey finds his great transformation. When he finally calls out to God for salvation, his perspective is changed and he finds new life. God longs to provide relief from our disappointments, but we must seek Him to find Him. God reminds those in captivity in Babylon that He is there to provide for them, but they must seek him with all their heart. The same is true today, God will provide the new life we long for when knowing Him is our highest priority.
   
5. Trust that God’s plans are better than yours
   The climactic scene of It’s A Wonderful Life finds George Bailey running through town rejoicing in his disappointments. He jumps for joy seeing his crashed car, he wishes a merry Christmas to his enemy, Mister Potter. He runs home to find the police ready to arrest him and proclaims: “Isn’t it great? I’m going to jail!” This is an echo of the command we receive from Paul, Peter, and James – to rejoice in our suffering. The only way this is possible is to trust that God’s plans for us are better than our own plans. Only then can we rejoice in all circumstances.
   
6. Live in patient expectation of God’s promises
   God promised His people in Babylon that they would be rescued and restored, but that they would have to wait. We too must patiently wait to see God’s purposes revealed in our lives, but we can do so expectantly. This is the message of Christmas, that God keeps his promises to those who wait expectantly. Those waiting expectantly for the Messiah saw the first Advent and rejoiced. Those waiting expectantly for His next Advent will not be disappointed.

The wonderful life that we all long for is not found when God makes all of our plans succeed. It is found when we accept that God’s plans are better than our plans and commit ourselves to His purposes rather than ours.