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b'When I was a little kid, I planted a \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153tree\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d in our backyard. It was really just a short branch that I stuck in the dirt and doused with water, but I was convinced it would grow. Then, about a week later, my brother was mowing the lawn. And, you guessed it, he mowed my \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153tree\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d right down.\\nAnother time, it was winter\\u2014cold enough that you could see your breath in the air. My friends and I were goofing off, trying to take a picture of our foggy breath. But the fog always disappeared too quickly to get a good picture.\\nWhat do these random memories have in common? They both remind us of what our lives are like. Psalm 103 says that our lives are like grass (kind of like my \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153tree\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d). It seems green and lush, but soon it has withered or been cut. James 4 compares our lives to mist or fog\\u2014like breathing out on a cold day. One instant you can see it; the next, it\\u2019s gone.If you\\u2019re like me, those metaphors sound scary. What about our lives and plans for the future?\\nThe good news? That\\u2019s only half of the story. The first half of the story talks about us. The second talks about God. He\\u2019s in control, and He came in the flesh to live among us, experiencing the joys and the hurts of everyday life (Hebrews 4:14-16). He loves us and understands that our lives are like grass or mist. And, although our plans may not always work out, God is with us. His plan is not shaken. He is working everything for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28).\\nTherefore, we can trust in Him. We can admit we don\\u2019t know everything, acknowledging that He is the One who is in control. Sure our lives are just a tiny dot in the grand scheme of things. But God\\u2019s big-picture kingdom plan is what matters: He has planned to give us a way to eternal life, through Christ\\u2019s death and resurrection (John 3:16).\\n\\u2022 What emotion do you feel when thinking about your future? Pride? Fear? \\u2022 What specific thing do you need to trust God about right now?\\u2022 Read Romans 8:1-3, 1 Corinthians 15:54-57, and Ephesians 1:19-23. How does knowing that Jesus is in control\\u2014and that He has beaten sin and death\\u2014change your view of the future? \\nYou can make many plans, but the Lord\\u2019s purpose will prevail. Proverbs 19:21 (NLT)\\n\\xa0\\nRead Verses:\\nPsalm 103:13-18; James 4:13-15'