“The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps” (Prov 16:9). The statement posited by Solomon is quite a provocative verse, especially in today’s do-it-yourself society. A culture used to planning its own progress step-by-step hates the reality that there is One higher who can thwart those plans. Hurricanes, traffic jams, postponed flights, and unexpected illnesses cannot occur without the oversight of the sovereign God of this universe, and these God-ordained circumstances often delay, deter, or destroy the plans that we made. Such situations serve as stark reminders of God’s sovereignty. The Lord’s sovereignty over the affairs of men is not intended to make us into fatalists. For those who know the Lord, this doctrine is a source of motivation to live rightly. So how does God’s complete sovereignty compel us to live wisely? Verses 3 and 4a are key, “Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established, The LORD has made everything for its purpose.” In other words, while God is sovereign over all that happens, he does not order things arbitrarily; rather, he does so according to his perfect will. And since God himself is love, holiness, and wisdom, believers can be assured that all things he does on earth are for good purposes. Understanding this concept helps us see that the “traffic jams” of life actually have good intentions behind them, no matter how frustrating they may seem at the moment!
