Saturday, February 11, 2012

God Determines Our Path

We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps. -- Proverbs 16:9

Several years ago there was a country music song that had a line I’ve always remembered. I don’t remember the song title or the band but that line just contained such truth. It said, “If you want to hear God laugh, tell Him your plans.”

I’ve repeated that line many times, usually because whatever I’ve planned either didn’t happen or didn’t go as I’d expected. That’s what happens when we go our own way, expecting God to agree, instead of asking God what He wants and then following His lead.

In all fairness to God, He’s always right. Many times He’s let me get my own way and I’ve lived to regret it. He never says “I told you so” like the rest of us would be tempted to do. He just picks me up, dusts me off, and sets me on the right path again.

We have many clichés that talk about life: Life is what you make it; Life is what happens when you’re making plans; Seize life. You know them all, I’m sure. But nothing happens without God first determining our steps. We tend to forget that.

I never planned to live where I live now. I never planned to teach Sunday school. I never planned to be an artist. I never planned to be single or childless.

Instead, I was a dreamer who thought I could conquer the world no matter what obstacles stood before me. I naively thought I could overcome scars by sheer willpower and that I could make my life fit the dreams I carried deep inside. Foolish, I now know. Time teaches us what we refused to learn through prayer.

I’m not sure what God originally had in mind for me. I never asked. In my own defense, I was too new at loving Him and just so lost that I didn’t have a clue. I wish someone had mentored me. I wished someone had brought me in and taught me how to rely on God.

Fortunately, He had a plan for me that included drawing me closer to Him. I’m grateful that He never gave up and never let me go.

I still don’t know what His plan is for me. I try to take it day by day and trust that God will always do what is best. I know that God will determine my steps, wherever He decides I should go. He’ll open doors or close them. He’ll grant me favor or carry me through a dark valley. God will hold me close no matter the path. I will walk by faith and trust His plan.