“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”
-Proverbs 16:9 NIV

Hello, family! Have you ever made detailed plans for your life—mapped out steps and envisioned outcomes—only to find that God took you in a completely different direction? Perhaps you thought you knew the path, only to discover you were walking one you never expected. If this has happened to you, you’re not alone. Proverbs 16:9 gently reminds us of a deeper truth: while we plan our path, God ultimately establishes our steps.
I want to encourage both you and me that, even though we may not see His plans for our lives at this moment, He will reveal them to us in stages throughout our journey. Speaking from experience, facing the unknown and surrendering control is not easy. At times, your faith may feel like it is running on empty, but we must believe in the goodness and consistency of God’s character. Everything happens so we can evolve and grow for our good.
The truth is, our perspective is limited. We plan based on what we see, but God guides us based on what He knows. Surrendering to His direction does not mean we stop planning; rather, it means we hold our plans loosely and trust His wisdom above our own. It’s like drawing a map and then handing the compass to Someone who knows the terrain far better than we do.
Have you ever seen your plans completely fall apart, only to later realize that God was protecting you or redirecting you to something better? Proverbs 16:9 is often understood only in hindsight. The first part of the verse—“In their hearts humans plan their course”—acknowledges that planning is a natural and good part of our lives. We’re meant to be intentional with our time, relationships, and work. However, if we plan without God, we risk moving in a direction that leads us away from His best.
Inviting God into the planning process means praying before acting, listening before deciding, and trusting even when things don’t go the way we hoped. Every step we take, even the ones that feel like detours, is guided by a God who sees the full picture.
Reflection Questions:
- Have you experienced a time when your plans were redirected by God?
- How do you typically respond when things don’t go according to your plan?
- What’s one way you can invite God into your planning this week?
A Prayer:
Lord, I bring my plans before You today. I lay down my desire for control and invite You to direct my steps. Help me to trust that Your way is always better, even when it looks different from mine. Thank You for being the One who guides my path. Amen.
Be Encouraged and Live Faithfully!
Love,
Ronni Lauren💗







