Proverbs 16:9 says, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” This verse teaches an important truth about God’s sovereignty and human responsibility. Let’s break it down phrase-by-phrase:
“The heart of man plans his way”
This first part refers to the human tendency to make our own plans and chart our own course through life. We all have desires, dreams, goals, and ambitions that we make efforts to fulfill. There is nothing inherently wrong with planning and striving to accomplish good things. However, this verse is a reality check that while we can make plans, we do not have ultimate control.
“But the Lord establishes his steps”
This second part is key. No matter how much we plan and work, it is ultimately God who is in control and “establishes” our steps. The word “establish” has the sense of making firm, fixing, stabilizing and directing. While we plot our course, it is God who providentially determines and orders where we actually end up. Our lives are not just the result of our own planning, but rather the outworking of God’s higher plans. What seems like chance to us is ordained by Him.
The balance between human responsibility and God’s sovereignty
This verse strikes a balance between human responsibility and God’s sovereignty. On one hand, we are responsible for wise planning and diligent effort. A lazy or passive approach to life is not pictured. We should make goals and work hard to accomplish them. However, all our effort is in submission to God’s sovereignty. He directs the ultimate outcome. After all our striving, it is God who determines what is achieved. We plan and work as if everything depended on us, while trusting that everything ultimately depends on God.
Practical implications
There are several practical implications from this truth:
- We should make careful plans and work diligently, while holding our plans loosely and remaining open and flexible to God’s leading and redirecting.
- When plans fail or disaster strikes, we can take comfort knowing it is ultimately from God’s hand even when we don’t understand.
- We don’t have to anxiously strive to control every detail of life, but can rest and trust in God’s good plans.
- Making detailed plans and goals can be helpful, but we always submit them to God in prayer, saying “not my will but yours be done.”
- God is at work behind the scenes, beyond our understanding, to order our steps according to His wise and loving purpose.
- We should seek God’s will in all our planning, rather than just pursuing our own agenda.
God’s sovereignty does not negate human responsibility
This verse affirms both human responsibility (to make plans and work hard) and God’s sovereignty (to ultimately direct one’s steps). Some people have trouble holding these two truths in tension. However, the testimony of Scripture is that both are true. Just because God is sovereign does not mean we become passive. And just because we are responsible does not mean we are independent of God.
Planning and working hard are good and necessary. But we must do so humbly, consciously depending on the Lord, holding plans loosely, and remaining open and submitted to His will. Our responsibility does not limit God’s sovereignty. And His sovereignty does not negate our responsibility. They exist side by side.
How this truth helps us trust God in difficult circumstances
Believing in God’s sovereignty is especially comforting in times of difficulty and disappointment. When tragedy strikes, dreams crumble, and plans fail, it is reassuring to know God is still in control working out His good purposes. We don’t have to pretend to understand why God allows suffering and setbacks. But we can rest knowing every circumstance is under His authority.
For example, Paul experienced many hardships in ministry. His plans were often hindered and changed against his will. But reflecting on experiences like being imprisoned in Rome when he had planned to go to Spain, he wrote “I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel” (Philippians 1:12). This was not by Paul’s planning, but God’s. Paul submitted His plans to God’s overruling authority to direct His steps.
When experiencing trials and disappointments, Proverbs 16:9 offers comfort, strength and perspective. We don’t have to control everything or understand everything. Behind and beneath it all God is sovereignly at work to accomplish His good purposes. We can trust in His unseen hand directing our steps even when life takes unexpected turns.
God directs both believers’ and unbelievers’ steps
It is important to understand that Proverbs 16:9 refers to God directing the steps of all people, not just believers. God in His sovereignty guides and determines the course of every human life, whether they acknowledge Him or not. There are several examples in Scripture of God directing the steps of unbelievers to accomplish His purposes. For example, God hardened Pharaoh’s heart (Exodus 9:12), directed the spears of the Assyrians (Isaiah 10:5), and worked through Cyrus king of Persia (Ezra 1:1).
So God is sovereign even over those who rebel against Him and refuse to submit to His lordship. Though they do not recognize it, their steps are under God’s guiding hand as much as anyone’s. He works through the lives of both believers and unbelievers to accomplish His sovereign plan.
Submitting our plans to God
Since God directs our steps, what should we do with this truth? First, as mentioned already, we should responsibly make good plans and work diligently. Second, we should submit our plans and efforts to God in prayer, desiring His blessing but willing to accept His redirecting. Third, we should maintain flexibility and humility, holding plans loosely when circumstances change. And finally, we should trust God when our steps take an unexpected course, believing He has a purpose.
Practically, this means taking our plans to God in prayer. The apostle James wrote, “You ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that'” (James 4:15). Keeping our plans tentative and open to God’s leading is wise. We can make detailed preparations while trusting that ultimately God oversees what happens. When making goals and setting a course, we should pray for God’s direction and blessing more than anything else.
How God directs our steps
There are many ways God directs people’s steps. Some include:
- Ordinary guidance through wisdom, biblical principles, counselors, circumstances, etc.
- Preventing or stopping unwise actions and dangerous courses.
- Opening and closing doors of opportunities unexpectedly.
- Placing helpful or strategic people in our lives.
- Allowing trials that grow and redirect us.
- Providing unexpected resources and help.
- Burdening our conscience to take courageous moral stands.
- Impressing biblical truths on our minds that shape our thoughts and actions.
- Giving spiritual gifts and talents that equip us for service.
- Granting inner peace or unease to confirm His will.
In all these ways, and often imperceptibly, God influences the course of our lives. Looking back we can often see God’s hand guiding us, though we were unaware at the time. He rarely over-rides our will, but works through human personality and circumstance to shape our steps according to His plan. And God’s plans are always motivated by perfect love and wisdom.
Trusting God when life is dark and difficult
What about times when life seems painful, confusing, and out of control? How can God be directing our steps when circumstances are difficult and unpredictable? In the complex world we live in, situations will not always be clear. At times the Lord will lead us through seasons of waiting, suffering, uncertainty and ambiguity for reasons we cannot yet discern. But Proverbs 16:9 remains true: no matter how dark life seems, God is sovereignly guiding each step.
When traversing times like this, we learn to trust in the Lord’s wisdom and faithfulness even when we cannot trace His hand. We take life one day at a time, looking to Him for strength and direction for the step ahead. Though unsure of the big picture, we know our next decision or action is firmly guided by the Lord. Though the path seems obscured, He lights our way one step at a time. By walking in godly wisdom and obedience, we can rest knowing our loving Shepherd is leading us in His purpose. The Lord promises to go before us and guide us through valleys of shadow and trouble (Psalm 23:4-5).
God directs our steps through His Word
The primary way God leads and directs our lives as believers is through His Word. The Bible gives instruction, commands, and principles for right living, decision making and conduct. As we fill our minds with Scripture, it clarifies God’s will in many life situations. The psalmist wrote “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). God’s Word sheds light on the path ahead when the way seems dark.
For example, when facing temptation the Bible reminds us to flee immorality and pursue righteousness. When treated unfairly at work, Scripture teaches us to endure patiently and leave revenge to God. When relating to our spouse, God’s Word instructs us to be loving, forgiving and faithful. When raising children, biblical principles provide guidance. When using money, we follow Scriptural wisdom and commands regarding stewardship and generosity. Even matters like selecting a career, buying a home, relating to government, and evangelizing come into clearer focus in light of Bible passages pertaining to them.
The more we saturate our minds with biblical truth, the better we are able to walk in God’s ways and His steps for our lives. We gain wisdom to handle life’s decisions and grow in discernment. God’s Word powerfully directs our steps when studied, believed and applied to life. The Holy Spirit uses Scripture to lead us into truth and understanding of God’s will.
God’s direction is progressive over our lifetime
We should understand that God’s direction is progressive over the course of a believer’s lifetime. We do not discover God’s complete will for our lives immediately at salvation. But as we walk with Christ, gradually He shapes our character, transforms our thinking, and guides us into paths of righteousness and service. Like Abraham, often we go out not knowing where God is leading next (Hebrews 11:8). Yet by faith we follow His leading one step at a time.
Over a lifetime God fine tunes us, developing skills and gifts, exposing sinful habits of thought, deepening spiritual wisdom, pruning unhelpful behaviors, producing virtues and character. He leads us out of unwise life patterns and into greater kingdom purpose. We will not arrive at complete maturity or discernment this side of eternity. But even in old age we keep learning, growing and discovering new insights into God’s will.
The key is maintaining a responsive, dependent heart before God. As His Word says, “The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way” (Psalm 37:23). By delighting in God and seeking His glory, He will keep directing our steps in greater fullness over a lifetime of walking with Him.
In conclusion…
Proverbs 16:9 contains a vital life lesson. While we responsibly make plans and work hard, it is God who is ultimately sovereign over our lives. He directs and establishes our steps according to His perfect will. Therefore we can trust Him even when life takes confusing or painful turns. By submitting our plans to God in prayer and humility, studying His Word, delighting in Him, and walking in obedience, He will keep ordering our steps according to His good purpose.
God’s sovereignty and human responsibility work hand-in-hand, not against one another. We fulfill our duty before God by living wisely and diligently, while trusting that He oversees all that happens. What a comfort to know that in this complex and chaotic world, our lives and steps are in God’s wise, faithful and loving hands as He works out His good plan.