As I was writing a devotional for our Hard Truths series on the latter verses in James 4, I realized I had quite a bit more on my heart I wanted to share than the space would allow, so I find myself writing this into a blog in hopes that it touches your heart and that God uses it to challenge and encourage you in Him. With that said, I’ll begin as I did before… I’m not an old guy, but as I have come to learn the hard way, “It’s not the years; it’s the miles!” I have no doubt this sentiment is shared by many of my brothers and sisters in arms, in Christ, in friendship, and in many other ways. So, after numerous deployments to combat zones, being knocked off my feet by IED and mortar explosions, overseas mission trips, and now, as of this writing, major lung and quintuple bypass heart surgeries, I know one thing is certain: Tomorrow is not promised.
You Are a Mist
This passage in James slashes through the everyday assumptions we make about life. We frequently find ourselves planning, predicting, and presuming what’s next. It’s completely natural. We make appointments, mark our calendars, set up meetings, and plan for months and even years into the future. But James’ words challenge this forward-thinking framework with a sobering reality check:
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.
James 4:13-14
You are vapor (NASB)! Those words hit like a ton of bricks. They provide a not-so-subtle gut punch to us about the fragility of life, a theme that seems to resonate with me on a personal level constantly. I have witnessed firsthand the unpredictable nature of existence. In just the last few years, many of those dear to me—both personally and within our community of faith—have faced unimaginable tragedies: sickness, injury, and loss of children, siblings, parents, and friends. These moments serve as stark reminders that while we can and should plan for the future, we must also recognize the urgency of living out our faith and making an impact while we have the chance.
Tension Between Planning and Trusting
In a world that overemphasizes planning and achieving, it can be tempting to focus solely on our goals and ambitions. James is not telling us to abandon all planning, but he is calling us to position ourselves in a posture of humility and trust with regard to the future. The sobering reality is that life, no matter how well-organized, is at best uncertain. We can plan, but we must always do so with the understanding that our plans are subject to God’s will. As James says, Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that” (James 4:15). This isn’t just a phrase to tack on to our plans—it’s a mindset that changes how we approach everything in life.
He calls us to recognize God's sovereignty over our lives. In a society that prides itself on self-sufficiency, the idea of surrendering our plans to someone else’s control can feel uncomfortable. Yet, as believers, we are called to live in such a way that we remain constantly aware of God's presence and purpose. When we hold our plans in open hands, we are able to walk more faithfully and flexibly, trusting that God’s will is perfect in each circumstance and eventuality.
Living with Holy Anticipation
I often tell those in my life group that we, as a Western culture, have a ferocious tendency only to look ahead, frequently avoiding and even ignoring what has come before. It’s important to remember that being so forward-focused can create tremendous anxiety, especially when our plans don’t work out how we expect (or even demand) them to. However, if we develop a healthy habit of looking at how God has walked with us through difficult, tragic, and painful times in the past, it can give us tremendous confidence to navigate the uncertainty ahead. Knowing that no matter what happens, God is in control, and we can rest in the truth that nothing takes Him by surprise. We can develop an attitude of holy anticipation for what God is going to do and even model the example of Rack, Shak, and Bennie (Daniel 3) … I believe my God can and will, but even if He doesn’t, we will follow Him.
Living this way means acknowledging that our time on earth is fleeting. You are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes (James 4:14). This imagery of a mist, or vapor, is both humbling and clarifying. It shifts our perspective from the temporal to the eternal. Life is short, yes, but that very brevity should inspire us to live with intention and purpose. It should push us to prioritize the things that matter most—our relationship with God, our impact on others, and the legacy of faith we leave long after we are gone.
In light of this, how do we respond? How do we live in the tension of planning for the future while knowing that tomorrow is not promised? The answer lies in aligning our plans with God’s will and living each day with urgency and intentionality. There is a profound beauty in feeling the press of time; it can create a bias for action. This passage reminds us that while the pain of the present can feel overwhelming, it is only temporary. For those in Christ, there is the assurance that our suffering is for a season, and we will see our Savior face to face one day.
The Call to Action
One of the challenges of modern life is that it can be so easy to drift into complacency. We become so wrapped up in the daily grind that we lose sight of the bigger picture. We make plans, follow routines, and assume that tomorrow will always come. But James shakes us from that complacency and reminds us that each day is a gift. Each breath is an opportunity to live fully for Christ, to serve others, and to fulfill the purpose God has placed on our lives.
James 4:17 concludes this passage with a warning: So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. This is a call to action. It’s not just about avoiding wrongdoings but about actively doing good. It’s about being faithful stewards of the time and resources God has given us. If we know what we ought to do—whether it’s reaching out to someone in need, sharing the gospel, or simply being present for our loved ones—and we fail to do it, we are missing the mark.
This verse encapsulates the essence of Christian living in many ways. We are called not just to avoid sin but to pursue righteousness actively. The urgency of life’s brevity should propel us to make the most of every opportunity. We are not guaranteed tomorrow, but we have today, and that is enough to make a difference.
So, stay steadfast. Live each moment as the gift that it is—that’s why we call it the “present.” Allow the awareness that tomorrow is not promised to fuel your passion to live fully for Christ. Let it stir you to action, to love more deeply, to give more generously, and to serve more faithfully. And as you plan for the future, do so with an open hand, knowing that the best-laid plans are always subject to God’s perfect will.
Life is uncertain, but one thing is sure: God’s faithfulness endures. In the midst of unpredictability, we can rest in the knowledge that our lives, though fleeting, are held in the hands of a loving Father.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
Hebrews 10:23
So, while we plan, we also trust. While we dream, we also surrender. And while we live, we live with the full knowledge that each moment is a gift, one that we are called to steward well for the glory of God.
