Guidance #5—Sovereign Guidance

A person’s plans are heartfelt, but the Eternal directs his steps. … Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but the counsel of the Eternal is what will stand. Proverbs 16:9; 19:21

God encourages us to plan and prepare as a way to prosper. But how many times have we rejoiced that events did not transpire as we planned them? How many times have we winced as some well-conceived sequence of events seemed to unravel for no reason? How many times have we wondered at the accuracy of Stevenson’s words: “The best laid plans of mice and men go oft astray,” or why Twain’s words seem equally true: “All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence; then success is sure”? Fortunately for us, God, in his wisdom, knows exactly what will bring about the good that he desires to accomplish in our lives. He knows what will cause our faith to grow, our hope to be firm, and our love for him and others to increase. He knows what will make us more like Jesus, and how to make it happen. Fortunately for us, in God’s expressions of grace he engineers circumstances and moves the hearts of individuals, so that his plans for us always succeed—even when it seems like ours fail. If God is for us, who can be against us? Fortunately, God, in his love for us, is perfectly dependable, trustworthy, honorable, competent, and good.

Sovereign Lord, I commit myself again to live in the context of your loving wisdom and power. Grant me the grace to keep trusting you regardless of how my plans turn out.