You’d think that for a science fiction writer living in the future would be a good thing. I mean, sci-fi is all about futuristic stuff, isn’t it? Well, not always, but this genre does usually imagine dazzling worlds and life in distant future times. Imagining what could come in the future makes for some good storytelling. This is all in the realm of the imagination, and there is certainly nothing wrong with future-thinking when you set out to craft a good tale.
Likewise, considering your own future life and preparing for it are also good things. It would be foolish not to make plans for yourself, your family, or your business. God gave us all brains and common sense, and He expects us to think ahead and plan while remaining flexible to His guidance: “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established” (Proverbs 16:3).
The kind of “living in the future” that is not so good is when we spend too much time there. We can’t possibly know the future, but we’ll still agonize over preparing for every possible scenario. Have you done that, only to find that something completely different—something you could have never prepared for—happened anyway? That is called “projecting” yourself into the future. You spend countless hours pondering what could happen to you, building up scenarios and planning what you’d say or do, covering all your bases (or so you think). You become completely distracted by your planning and miss out on things happening around you in the present. Then, in the end, nothing you imagined even comes to pass.
In a way, when we do that, we’re “playing God.” We want to know things about the future that only God can know. Oh, we don’t think we’re usurping His place as God; we just convince ourselves we’re being good planners. We’re just using the brain God gave us, right? Wrong. When you set your plans and then go on living in the present, letting God handle the future, you’re doing good planning. But when you’re projecting into the future and living there instead, you’re showing that you can’t trust God with your future.
That stings, but it certainly describes my life. I’ve been that person who spends all his time projecting into the future and trying to guess every possible scenario, usually to the detriment of what is happening around me in the here and now. Some psychologists call it “rumination,” or having a “ruminating brain.” I still call it trying to play God…and I’m done with it. I don’t want to think about all the what-if’s anymore. It’s impossible, pointless to try, and it robs me of today.
One day, I’ll write about what finally exposed this debilitating way of thinking in my own life. For now, I’ll just say that God has a way of getting your attention, and that sometimes it takes a major crisis to get you to look inside yourself and want to change. Instead of dwelling on that, though, I want to encourage those of you who may resonate with this kind of “living in the future.” Writer Christina Sarich, in her 2016 article titled “3 Ways to Stop Living in the Future,” offers some great advice on how to stop the maddening cycle and focus on the present. Some people call that simply “being mindful” or “being in the now.” It is, but it’s also about resisting the urge to play God and leaving the future in His hands. Be diligent in planning, but then step back and let Him guide things.
I also point you to another great article titled “Your Life Will Change the Second You Stop Waiting” from the website ExploringYourMind.com. In it, the author says that you should “stop focusing your expectations only on tomorrow: By this we don’t mean that you shouldn’t take the future into account. We mean that in order to make our dreams come true, we have to act in our ‘here and now.’” Again, your focus should be on the present. Stop sitting idly because you are afraid of the future and do something to move you forward now!
I hope this post and these articles help someone out there. Don’t be like me and have to experience a major crisis before you finally learn to “let go and let God.” There is freedom in letting go, especially when you give it all up to the only person who can offer you complete security and rest from your ruminations: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).
Planet of Eden Update
Work on Planet of Eden has stalled a bit as my family navigates a temporary health setback. I assure you, though, that I am about to get back on track! I promised you some sample chapters, and those will be on the way very soon. Remember that EIC (Edenite Inner Circle) supporters will get the first look. If you want to join that exclusive group, just send a donation of any size through my gofundme page.
Thank you, fellow Edenites, for following this blog. Feel free to share it with others who might benefit from the content.
Until my next update…be excellent, be awesome, and be present!
