Proverbs 16:9 – “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps”.
LIFE HAS A WAY OF INTERRUPTING OUR CAREFULLY CONSTRUCTED PLANS.
Sometimes those interruptions come wrapped in joy: a long-awaited breakthrough, an unexpected opportunity, or a door we never thought would open. Other times, they arrive as loss, disappointment, or heartache that shifts the direction of our lives entirely.
Yet, even with life’s unpredictability, we are wired to plan. We dream about our future, set goals, envision relationships, careers, ministries, and milestones. Planning itself is not the problem; it is part of how we express hope and purpose. The challenge arises when we assume that our plans alone determine the course of our lives.
The truth is none of us truly knows what tomorrow holds. We don’t know what the next year will look like, or even the next hour. While we see only fragments, God sees the full picture. He is not limited by time, circumstance, or uncertainty. He knows every turn before we reach it and every outcome before we take the first step.
This is why Proverbs 16:9 resonates so deeply: we may make plans, but God directs our steps. It reminds us that while planning is human, guidance is divine. We are invited to walk in partnership with God: not clinging tightly to our own agendas but trusting Him to lead us where we need to go.
God’s guidance does not always mean immediate clarity. Sometimes it comes as a gentle nudge rather than a detailed roadmap. At other times, it may involve closed doors that redirect us toward something better, even when it doesn’t feel that way in the moment. What we often perceive as delay or detour is actually divine protection or preparation.
Submitting our plans to God does not mean abandoning dreams or living passively. Instead, it means allowing our desires to be refined by His wisdom. It means holding our plans with open hands, trusting that God knows which paths will bring life, peace, and lasting fruit.
Prayer becomes the place where this surrender happens. When we bring our hopes, ambitions, and questions before God, we invite Him into the process. We ask Him not only to bless our plans, but to shape them. We give Him permission to realign our desires, remove what doesn’t belong, and awaken what truly reflects His purpose for our lives.
Even when the path feels uncertain, God’s guidance never fails. He leads with grace, walks with patience, and remains present through every season. As we trust Him, we discover that His direction is not only accurate, but also loving.
So, take a moment to reflect. What plans are you holding tightly? What dreams are you pursuing on your own strength? Today is an invitation to bring them before God. Ask Him to direct your steps, to reveal what aligns with His heart, and to give you the courage to follow wherever He leads. When we trust God to guide our lives, we find that even the unexpected becomes meaningful, and every step, purposeful.
Amen.
SIX KEY TAKEAWAY POINTS
Life is unpredictable, but God is never uncertain:
What surprises us is always known and held by Him.
Planning is human; direction is divine:
God lovingly guides the steps we cannot see ahead.
God’s guidance often comes through surrender, not control:
Open hands create space for His wisdom to lead.
Prayer aligns our desires with God’s purpose:
It transforms plans into pathways shaped by grace.
Closed doors can be divine redirection:
God protects us by steering us toward what’s best.
Trusting God brings freedom and peace:
We walk confidently when we know He is leading.
