Are you into your planning for the coming year? I know it is several months away, but the planning starts well before a new year arrives. As leaders, it falls to us to plan for the days ahead…to lead our teams forward to the next event or the next goal.

But as I sit and start to plan for this coming year, I fight the attitude that says, “What difference does it make?” Major events happen and plans get changed…whether we want them to or not. Travel, conferences, flights, meetings, and many other scheduled events sometimes get unscheduled, rescheduled, then unscheduled again and again. Frustrating!

But you must lead…and you must plan. Even if those plans get changed. Yogi Berra was an American icon, a baseball player and a coach. He often messed up the language in trying to say something, so much so that his sayings became known as Yogi-isms. Example: “When you come to a fork in the road, take it!” Or “You can observe a lot by just watching.” Here is a favorite: “Always go to other people’s funerals, otherwise they won’t come to yours.” Funny!

Yogi Berra also said, “If you don’t know where you are going, you might wind up someplace else.” And Yogi is right!

The old saying is true: If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.

In spite of the challenges, you are facing as you look ahead for the ministry, you must plan. Yes, those plans will very likely change. But not all of them. And you will have set most of the course for the ministry. And those who serve with you will have a sense of how the future will shape up.

Management consultant Peter Drucker understood things could change, but he still valued the effort. “Plans are worthless, but planning is invaluable.” There needs to be forward movement in ministry. If not, it becomes stagnant and unproductive. When the team senses that the leader is frustrated and uncertain because of the uncertain days, it makes it much more difficult to see the light ahead.

John Maxwell wrote about leading through frightening times. Among the great insights he shared was this on painting a brighter picture:

When things are frightening, the world seems small and dark; to counteract that, you must paint a picture that’s bigger and brighter. We must point beyond the fear to a brighter day, to remind people of what the Psalmist said: “Nights of crying your eyes out give way to days of laughter.” Leaders must communicate to their people the hope on the other side of the fear.

So, even if it is frustrating…even if you have to change the plans again and again…set a good example for your ministry team and plan for the best days ahead. Yes, you may have to sprinkle your plans with the biblical phrase, “If the Lord allows…,” but that’s OK. It is all in His hands.

God’s best,