“We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.” (Proverbs 16:9, NLT)
It is not uncommon to hear the following sentences from the mouths of mere mortals:
“Next week, I’m going to fly out to see my brother.”
“I’ve got enough money saved up for my retirement.”
“As soon as I graduate, I’m going to move to Georgia.”
“That won’t happen!”
All these statements imply that the person is in control of his or her own destiny. In reality, none of the statements may come true. These people don’t know if they will die in an accident before the statement is fulfilled. They don’t know if aircraft will be grounded due to some unforeseen consequences. They don’t know if something like a COVID virus may pop up and wreck their financial picture. So often, we think and speak and act as if we are in control. The only one in control on this earth is God. Our scripture for today makes that abundantly clear.
Proverbs is a book about wisdom. In Proverbs 16:9, the author wants the reader to understand that though humans “make our plans”, the Lord will “determine” what will really happen. Only God knows which human plans will endure with time. It is arrogant and unrealistic to assume your plans will go off to perfection. You can’t control that! Some people make contingencies to “ensure” their plans will go off without a hitch. That too is deceptive. There are factors and consequences you may not foresee, to which you cannot plan at the present. You’ve probably heard the phrase “Hindsight is 20/20.” This statement reinforces that looking back, reality becomes clearer. But even with hindsight, there might be things you misinterpret, fail to perceive, or take for granted. Life is full of chaos and accidents and unforeseen consequences. Only God knows all the answers.
“Money magazine reported in its January 1997 issue that a group of people were asked which is longer, the Panama Canal or the Suez Canal, and then asked how certain they were that their answer was correct. Among those who were 60% certain, 50% of them got the answer right--meaning that this group was 10% too sure. But among those who were 90% certain, only 65% got the answer right, meaning that this group was 25% too sure.
Apparently, according to this reported study, the more convinced we are of our knowledge, the bigger the gap between what we actually know and what we think we know. Such overconfidence leads to an illusion of control. As we overestimate the value of our own skills and knowledge, it leads us to make mistakes.
One of the hardest challenges for people is to accept just how little they really know. An example of overestimated knowledge took place a few years ago when a Spanish national lottery winner was asked how he selected the ticket number. He answered that he was positive his lucky number ended in 48--because, he said, “I dreamed of the number seven for seven straight nights. And seven times seven is 48.”” (“The McIntosh Church Growth Network”, Vol. 9, Issue 6, June 1997).
In your spiritual life, you need to be careful that you don’t overestimate your connection with God. You need to realize your own human inability to understand many things in life. You are not God. Some things are out of your control. You don’t have all the answers. Life is full of surprises. Accidents may shake up your perfectly ordered world. Unforeseen occurrences can rattle your calm and cloud your future. When you have true faith in God, however, you can count on God’s providence. God knows where you are and what you need (See Matthew 6:8). God is fully aware of your limitations. Though your plans may be imperfect, the scripture for today explains that God “determines” the steps you take. God can guide you through unforeseen circumstances. God can protect you in ways you cannot even comprehend.
So, when your plans start to fall apart, look to your Lord God. Seek God’s guidance and direction. Listen for God’s voice in prayer. Meditate on God’s word to correct your thinking. Trust in God’s providence. Then, look for God’s hand to guide you. You are not alone in this world. Though you cannot plan for every contingency, God will determine your steps. Yes, you need to make plans in your life. However, don’t be surprised when your plans fall apart. Life is complicated and unpredictable…. except to God!
When plans change, do you look to God for help? When your plans are derailed, do you fuss and fume instead of checking-in with God? Are you overconfident in your decisions? God can see where you cannot. God knows what you do not. If you want the best answers and direction in life, you know where to look, right?
“Next week, I’m going to fly out to see my brother.”
“I’ve got enough money saved up for my retirement.”
“As soon as I graduate, I’m going to move to Georgia.”
“That won’t happen!”
All these statements imply that the person is in control of his or her own destiny. In reality, none of the statements may come true. These people don’t know if they will die in an accident before the statement is fulfilled. They don’t know if aircraft will be grounded due to some unforeseen consequences. They don’t know if something like a COVID virus may pop up and wreck their financial picture. So often, we think and speak and act as if we are in control. The only one in control on this earth is God. Our scripture for today makes that abundantly clear.
Proverbs is a book about wisdom. In Proverbs 16:9, the author wants the reader to understand that though humans “make our plans”, the Lord will “determine” what will really happen. Only God knows which human plans will endure with time. It is arrogant and unrealistic to assume your plans will go off to perfection. You can’t control that! Some people make contingencies to “ensure” their plans will go off without a hitch. That too is deceptive. There are factors and consequences you may not foresee, to which you cannot plan at the present. You’ve probably heard the phrase “Hindsight is 20/20.” This statement reinforces that looking back, reality becomes clearer. But even with hindsight, there might be things you misinterpret, fail to perceive, or take for granted. Life is full of chaos and accidents and unforeseen consequences. Only God knows all the answers.
“Money magazine reported in its January 1997 issue that a group of people were asked which is longer, the Panama Canal or the Suez Canal, and then asked how certain they were that their answer was correct. Among those who were 60% certain, 50% of them got the answer right--meaning that this group was 10% too sure. But among those who were 90% certain, only 65% got the answer right, meaning that this group was 25% too sure.
Apparently, according to this reported study, the more convinced we are of our knowledge, the bigger the gap between what we actually know and what we think we know. Such overconfidence leads to an illusion of control. As we overestimate the value of our own skills and knowledge, it leads us to make mistakes.
One of the hardest challenges for people is to accept just how little they really know. An example of overestimated knowledge took place a few years ago when a Spanish national lottery winner was asked how he selected the ticket number. He answered that he was positive his lucky number ended in 48--because, he said, “I dreamed of the number seven for seven straight nights. And seven times seven is 48.”” (“The McIntosh Church Growth Network”, Vol. 9, Issue 6, June 1997).
In your spiritual life, you need to be careful that you don’t overestimate your connection with God. You need to realize your own human inability to understand many things in life. You are not God. Some things are out of your control. You don’t have all the answers. Life is full of surprises. Accidents may shake up your perfectly ordered world. Unforeseen occurrences can rattle your calm and cloud your future. When you have true faith in God, however, you can count on God’s providence. God knows where you are and what you need (See Matthew 6:8). God is fully aware of your limitations. Though your plans may be imperfect, the scripture for today explains that God “determines” the steps you take. God can guide you through unforeseen circumstances. God can protect you in ways you cannot even comprehend.
So, when your plans start to fall apart, look to your Lord God. Seek God’s guidance and direction. Listen for God’s voice in prayer. Meditate on God’s word to correct your thinking. Trust in God’s providence. Then, look for God’s hand to guide you. You are not alone in this world. Though you cannot plan for every contingency, God will determine your steps. Yes, you need to make plans in your life. However, don’t be surprised when your plans fall apart. Life is complicated and unpredictable…. except to God!
When plans change, do you look to God for help? When your plans are derailed, do you fuss and fume instead of checking-in with God? Are you overconfident in your decisions? God can see where you cannot. God knows what you do not. If you want the best answers and direction in life, you know where to look, right?