Based on James chapter 4, we are reminded neither to boast nor worry about the future, but rather to entrust our lives fully into God’s hands.
To those who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this city, spend our money, take a holiday, or carry out our plans” – why do you say that?
James reminds us: you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. We can formulate all the plans we want, but only God truly knows. He asks, “What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” Just as Scripture elsewhere compares our days to the grass of the field that quickly withers when the sun rises.
Instead, verse 15 instructs us to surrender our plans and say: “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”
When I was growing up, it was far more customary to say, “If the Lord wills.” People would routinely write the Latin abbreviation D.V. (Deo volente – "God willing") in their letters. Ultimately, God is the One who holds control over both your life and mine.
Even amidst serious global turmoil – such as the conflicts in Ukraine and Israel – God remains sovereign, and He knows all things. Often, it is out of our greatest tragedies that God brings forth the greatest blessings.
Entrusting the Future to God: Lessons from James Chapter 4
What Does James 4 Teach About Making Plans for the Future?
James 4:13-15 teaches that believers must avoid arrogant presumption when planning for tomorrow and instead surrender their future entirely to God's sovereign will. Because human life is brief and unpredictable, Scripture instructs individuals to hold their plans with humility, framing all future ambitions around the posture: "If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that."
1. The Trap of Presumption (James 4:13–14)
James addresses those who confidently declare:
"Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money."
Scripture challenges this mindset with two foundational realities:
The Unknown Future: No human knows what tomorrow brings. Formulating plans without acknowledging God’s sovereignty treats the future as an entitlement rather than a gift.
The Transience of Life: Verse 14 poses the sobering question: "What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." This mirrors broader biblical wisdom, such as Psalm 103:15-16 and Isaiah 40:6-8, where our lifespan is compared to the grass of the field that quickly withers under the rising sun.
2. The Biblical Alternative: Surrendering to God’s Will (James 4:15)
Instead of boasting about tomorrow, verse 15 instructs believers to adopt a posture of total reliance on the Creator:
"Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.'"
What Does "D.V." (Deo Volente) Mean?
Historically, this scriptural command was deeply woven into everyday language through the phrase "If the Lord wills" and the Latin phrase "Deo Volente" (abbreviated as D.V.). Common in correspondence, diaries, and public statements, writing "D.V." served as an explicit reminder that human longevity, travel, and endeavors remain entirely under divine authority.
3. Finding Peace Amid Global Turmoil
A biblical worldview anchors personal planning and global anxieties in the same foundational truth: God remains sovereign over both individual lives and world events.
Sovereignty Over Uncertainty: Even amid modern geopolitical crises and international conflicts, God’s omniscience and control are never diminished by human instability.
Redemption from Tragedy: Throughout Scripture and church history, God frequently uses seasons of profound sorrow to cultivate endurance, reveal divine mercy, and bring forth spiritual renewal. Entrusting plans to Him shifts focus away from paralysing anxiety toward confident faith.
Key Takeaways from James 4
Avoid Presumption: Human plans must never assume control over tomorrow.
Remember Your Frailty: Life is brief and temporary, like a vapor or mist.
Practice Deo Volente: Base all future aspirations on the phrase, "If the Lord wills."
Trust God’s Sovereignty: Surrendering personal ambitions to God brings peace even in global upheaval.