“We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.” Proverbs 16:9 NLT
My wife and I conducted a mentoring program for singles, during which we shared insights on how they can make the most of their single season. One takeaway was that marriage is not the ultimate solution to all their problems because it also comes with disruptions to plans that you never expect.
During courtship, we planned to get married in two years, which turned into three and a half years. It was not something we saw initially, and it would be easy to call it a delay. But it wasn’t a delay because we knew God had a hand in it, and we’re grateful for it.
It takes a lot of grit and discipline to stick to plans, regardless of the influences from children and extended family. God knows our season of life and directs our steps accordingly.
God knows your season better than you do. You may plan to travel the world in August, start your business in September, get married in October, give birth to twins in November, or make a career switch in December. Then suddenly, God reshuffles those plans, moving them forward by months.
The best thing we can do is trust God and be grateful for the gift of the present.
How does God order our steps as we work?
We can plan to start a project that God interrupts with something else He knows is more timely. If we go headstrong and do what we want, we may miss His blessing through what we felt was a diversion.
Goal setting is good, but only when we remain flexible to what God wants to do at any given time. This also doesn’t mean we should throw our hands in the air whenever something shakes our plans and give up.
We need to ask God for His intent concerning new activities that spring up. He knows our goals and the chronology of events because He is all-knowing.
So, He gives us updates through our Spirit of what He is doing, and because His will must be done, events are orchestrated to fulfil what He has for us. If we yield, we’ll realise a shift in priorities and understand His intent for every event.
“God orders my steps.”
How has God ordered your steps this year? What disruptions in your plans made you recognise God’s involvement in your life?
We become grateful for the diversions when we can see the lessons in every experience.
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