The Plan
Proverbs 16:9 (ESV)
A man’s mind plans his way [as he journeys through life], but the Lord directs his steps and establishes them.
While meditating on this passage, several people and their journeys came to mind.
Joseph’s Journey
Joseph had a dream that his family would one day bow down to him. Sometime after he shared this dream, his brothers threw him into a cistern and later sold him to slave traders headed to Egypt. Nowhere in Scripture do we read that Joseph planned to go to Egypt—but shortly after God gave him the dream, God’s plan for Joseph’s life began to unfold. (Genesis 37)
Naomi and Ruth’s Journey
When Naomi, her husband Elimelech, and their two sons left Judah, she had no idea that she would one day return to Bethlehem with only her daughter-in-law, Ruth. Her husband and sons had died, and Ruth—a Moabite—was the only one who came back with her. This was never Naomi or Ruth’s plan. (Ruth 1)
Mary’s Journey
When Mary was engaged to Joseph, she and her family were preparing for a wedding. But God interrupted her plans—He visited her through the angel Gabriel and revealed that she would conceive by the Holy Spirit. I’m sure Mary had looked forward to having children, but after marriage, not before. (Matthew 1)
Esther’s Journey
When Esther was simply living her life and obeying her cousin Mordecai, who had raised her, she was taken to the palace of Persia without her consent. Becoming queen and marrying the King of Persia was never part of her plan. (Esther 2)
Moses’ Journey
When Moses was eighty years old, he was married, had two sons, and had no plans to return to Egypt. Yet that was exactly where God sent him. (Exodus 4)
As I reflected on these stories, I tried to find one that followed a plan a person might make for their own life—but I couldn’t find a single example. Even David’s anointing as king was not part of his own plan. Every time God chose someone to fulfill His will, it was in a way they could have never imagined.
I believe the lesson here is that we shouldn’t become anxious when life doesn’t go according to our plans. More often than not, it’s the Lord directing our steps.
Key Takeaways
God’s ordered steps rarely look like anything we would plan.
Keeping our hearts focused on God helps us surrender and trust His plan.
The path God chooses to lead us to our purpose often includes character-building seasons that may feel lonely—but we are never truly alone. Immanuel, “God with us,” is always with us.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19; Isaiah 55:11
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