“In their hearts humans plan their course,
but the Lord establishes their steps.“
Proverbs 16:9
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I am a planner by nature. Whenever I approach a decision, dilemma, or unfamiliar situation, my go-to response is to research the heck out of it. I’ll spend hours studying the context, weighing the pros and cons, and formulating the best strategy. Interestingly enough, my husband is the opposite. This wonderful, intelligent man is perfectly happy jumping in without, as he lovingly puts it, “overthinking things to death.”
It wasn’t until after we got married that I thought to question my approach. Up until then, I took it for granted that this was just what smart, responsible people did. And to an extent, there’s truth to that. We should strive to make wise decisions. But I have come to realize that sometimes my inclination to research and plan actually masks anxiety. If I can research, study, and plan hard enough, I feel I can make things go the way that I want them to. In other words, I have a control issue.
The funny thing is that no matter how much I stress and plan, I am not the one who is ultimately in control of the outcome. My efforts only offer the illusion of control. Proverbs 16:9 tells us, “In their hearts, humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” While our actions and decisions do have influence, the one truly in control of the final outcome of any situation is God.
This truth brings a deeper, more lasting kind of peace than constantly striving for control ever could. Although the outcome of a situation might be uncertain, or our best plans might run awry, our wise, loving heavenly Father is in complete control. He will establish our steps more securely than our best efforts ever could. Even though things might not always turn out the way we plan, we can rest in the knowledge that His way will always be best.
Questions for reflection and discussion:
- Do you ever find yourself striving for control over your life?
- How does that make you feel?
- How does acknowledging that God is ultimately in control lead to peace?
Church Reading Plan: Isaiah 51; Revelation 21