“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord established his steps.”
Proverbs 16:9
“What are you most excited to do one day?”
“Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”
“What’s your life plan?”
These are just a few questions that we are often asked. It’s natural to want to plan what each season of life looks like. However, often our plans are subject to change, failure, seasons of waiting, sorrow and joy and ultimately seasons of “unknown.”
I’m currently writing this while sitting in my living room on fall break during my last semester of college (finally!). I have no idea what my next season will look like. The last few years have been full of deep sorrow and trials that often come with life. I’ve walked through seasons of immense loss, grief and unknowns and unexpected joy and kindness in the midst of it all. If you had asked me in High school what my 10-year plan would look like, it definitely wouldn’t have been this.
“What is happening in our lives may be surprising to us, but it is not surprising to God. Just as Jesus knew what was coming to Him, so God has known for eternity what is coming to us and what we will need to endure it. Let us trust in Him this day to strengthen us and to equip us for all that is ahead of us.”
-R.C. Sproul
When our plans do not go as we hoped, it’s easy to become frustrated, bitter or angry. In our humanness, it’s natural to want to grip our plans tighter.
We have to remind our hearts that ALL seasons under the sun are under the sovereign hand of God. He will never lead us into a season that he will not equip us for and go with us in.
My prayer for my life and for yours is that as we make plans for our lives we will hold our hands flat, knowing that it is the Lord who directs our steps and numbers our days. I pray that we will learn to rest in the sovereign hand of the Lord who plans each of our days even when our plans do not go as we had hoped. Praise God for his faithfulness, his loving kindness and his sovereignty in planning our steps.