When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” — Luke 13:12 (NIV)

Recently I participated in some online planning workshops to help me set goals for 2024. In our discussions, this question kept popping up: “Are you a planner, or a pantser?”

If (like me) you don’t know what that means, some of us like to plan. We create detailed lists and map out the path which will take us from where we are to where we want to be. But other people, the more spontaneous “pantsers”, prefer to fly by the “seat of their pants”.

Anyone who knows me would have no trouble seeing me in the “planners” group. And planning can be a great tool. The problem is that life doesn’t always go as planned. And in those moments we have to pivot. And pivoting is very hard for a planner. 

Several times in the last few weeks I’ve had to cancel plans because people in my life needed my help. I missed some meetings and items on my to-do list didn’t get done. Everything I planned was tied to a goal for this new year. And while I had peace in knowing I made the right decisions, I still felt a bit sad because I didn’t get to do what I had planned. And when the things I didn’t get done began to pile up, I felt frustrated. And then I started to feel resentful.

It’s always hard for me to pivot from my plans, especially ones that are tied to spiritual goals. But the following Bible passage helps me gain a better perspective:

On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God. (Luke 13:10-13 NIV)

Jesus went to the synagogue that day to teach ~ not to heal. And unlike many of the healings we read about in the gospels, this woman didn’t even ask to be healed. Jesus, prompted by compassion, took the initiative to change what he was doing so He could heal her. 

Jesus understood that sometimes we need to set aside our plans ~ even those tied to spiritual goals, in order to show compassion and meet a greater need. But unlike me, Jesus didn’t show regret, frustration, or resentment when He changed His plans that day. He was able to pivot and meet the needs around Him because He knew He was ultimately following God’s plan. 

And while on that day Jesus may not have taught in the traditional way, His actions spoke volumes and opened a different path for His teaching. The leader of the synagogue objected to the healing because it was done on the Sabbath (Luke 13:14). I don’t think the leader was necessarily mean spirited, because he encouraged the people to come on any other day for a healing ~ just not on the Sabbath. From his understanding, healing would be considered a work which would violate the commandment to keep the Sabbath holy (Exodus 20:8-11). Since the woman wasn’t in a life-or-death situation, the leader may have felt she could have waited until after the Sabbath to be healed.

Jesus took this opportunity to challenge some misconceptions the people had about what it meant to keep the Sabbath. He pointed out that if exceptions could be made to show compassion for an animal, we should be able to do the same for people (Luke 13:15-16). In everything Jesus did that day, He showed us the importance of following the heart of God’s law: to love God, and to love others (Matthew 22:36-40).

I will continue planning and setting goals, because I see the value in them. But I’m learning to also value those pivotal moments where God asks me to set aside what is good so I can pursue what is better. 

Lord Jesus, thank You for showing us that sometimes we need to set aside plans which are good, so we may pursue what is better. Help us to be flexible in this so we can truly love You and the people You place in our lives. We pray this in Your name, Amen.