My grandmother had an idiom that she liked to use when talking about her plans for the day. She would end the conversation with “Lord willing and the creek don’t rise.” This always amused me the way she would say it and it brings back fond memories. The phrase itself is grounded in the reality that we don’t know what the day will bring. It could be good or bad. Life turns on moments. We should not be shocked if bad news floods in, changing all the plans we might have had.

History and Culture

“Lord willing and the creek don’t rise” was used in popular language in the generation before my grandmother and the history of the phrase is interesting if one wants to explore more details.

Deo Volente

There is another bit of historical lore where this idea is expressed and that is in correspondence. People would add the letters D. V. to the end of a letter or if they were writing a sentence like “I plan to visit you next month” they would add a D. V. to that sentence. The D. V. is short for the Latin Deo Volente which means God Willing.

A Recommendation

The formal letter would say I have plans for my life, God Willing. While the more casual speaking of my grandmother might be I plan to do these things today Lord willing and the creek don’t rise. Both are rooted in a recommendation that James makes in his Biblical letter.

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. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” James 4:13-15 ESV

Examples of Use

“If the Lord wills” is such a great acknowledgement that God is in control. It would serve us well to also remember this when we are making our won plans. Paul even wrote this way in his letters to the churches.

But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills -1 Corinthians 4:19 ESV

The Biblical wisdom for generations and generations is that we should remember that we do not know what comes tomorrow and we are dependent on God for our daily bread.

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. Proverbs 27:1 ESV

Foolishness of Today

It seems to me that western church culture has focused on the words of Jesus where he spoke of being anxious. “Do not worry about tomorrow” (Matthew 6) but that was not the only mindset of the biblical culture or ours today. Many people are not worried about tomorrow. They see only endless opportunities, and they are making plans on how they will live their lives. But those plans apart from God are foolish. Yes, Foolish apart from God.

And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:19-21 ESV

Wisdom of the Past for Today

God says to be those making plans without an acknowledgment of God that they are “Fools.” The wisdom of those who came before us knew that tomorrow is not promised and for the sake of your soul acknowledge God. Jesus tells us to be “rich toward God”.

So how do we live out “Lord willing” as a note for all our plans. Here are thoughts on practically going about acknowledging God and avoiding your own puffed-up pride.

Practice adding “Lord Willing” to your day and prayers as an acknowledgement that ultimately God is in control and that you need him. This does not need to be in every conversation but maybe a few times a day as you plan your day.

Lord willing and the creek don’t rise is a cute phrase, but the rhetorical finish has a theological problem. Adding the creek part implies that God is not in control of the bad events that come our way. It limits God. If you do want to use the phrase, I would alter it to something like “Lord willing because even the creeks obey him.” The wind and waves obey God. If he wills it, then nothing can stop the events of the day. You live for his glory.