Proverbs 19:21 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
21 The human mind may devise many plans,
but it is the purpose of the Lord that will be established.
Word of God for the Children of God
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Life rarely follows the path we imagined.
We create timelines, set goals, and chase dreams — only to face unexpected setbacks, delays, and heartbreaks.
Whether it’s a lost opportunity, a closed door, or an unforeseen crisis, these detours can leave us questioning everything.
We may feel disoriented, disappointed, or even forgotten.
But even when our carefully crafted plans unravel, God’s purpose remains steady.
His sovereign hand is never shaken
Proverbs 19:21 Amplified Bible
21
Many plans are in a man’s mind,
But it is the Lord’s purpose for him that will stand (be carried out).
This powerful verse grounds us in truth: while it’s natural to dream and plan, it’s God’s overarching purpose that ultimately comes to pass.
And that’s good news.
Why? Because God sees and shapes the bigger picture.
He knows the end from the beginning.
While our plans may be well-intentioned, they are limited by what we can see and understand.
His purpose, however, is rooted in divine wisdom, love, and eternal perspective.
When life feels like it’s falling apart, God is often assembling something better — something aligned with His perfect will and timing.
If you’re feeling uncertain, behind, or heartbroken over dreams that haven’t come true, let this prayer guide you back unto God’s peace and perspective.
Proverbs 3:5-8 Amplified Bible
5
Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart
And do not rely on your own insight or understanding.
6
[a]In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him,
And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way].
7
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord [with reverent awe and obedience] and turn [entirely] away from evil.
8
It will be health to your body [your marrow, your nerves, your sinews, your muscles—all your inner parts]
And refreshment (physical well-being) to your bones.
The Bible is chock full of stories of people who have made plans for their lives but who never saw it come to pass because they did not sufficiently take into account the greatest outside influencer of their lives that being the will of God.
If we apply the same principles we learn from these stories, we can see the same thing in the lives of many from secular history as well. God is in control, not us.
In our lives, my wife and I have seen times that we thought we were headed one direction, only to find out that what seemed so sure and so secure (so good) to us was redirected into a dead end and life took us in a completely different way.
Sometimes it was because we made our plans without asking God and at other times, we just couldn’t contemplate nor understand what he had in store for us.
What makes this even more interesting is that some of the worst tragedies (at least it seemed it was to me at the time) turned out to be exactly just what we needed to redirect us and take us in an unseen but wonderful direction in life.
Seek his will for your life and he will lead you.
Seek his guidance and he will show you the way.
Follow his teaching and he opens doors for you that you never thought nor ever considered were possible. Trust God to lead you. Pray for him to guide you.
Open your heart to his response.
In absolute faith, give Jesus your life and he will use you in his way.
He has a place for every one of us in his plans.
Let him lead.
Let him guide.
Let him direct your steps.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Praying …
Thanksgiving for the Lord’s Favor.
A Psalm of David.
138 I will give You thanks with all my heart;
I sing praises to You before the [pagan] gods.
2
I will bow down [in worship] toward Your holy temple
And give thanks to Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth;
For You have magnified Your word together with Your name.
3
On the day I called, You answered me;
And You made me bold and confident with [renewed] strength in my life.
4
All the kings of the land will give thanks and praise You, O Lord,
When they have heard of the promises of Your mouth [which were fulfilled].
5
Yes, they will sing of the ways of the Lord [joyfully celebrating His wonderful acts],
For great is the glory and majesty of the Lord.
6
Though the Lord is exalted,
He regards the lowly [and invites them into His fellowship];
But the proud and haughty He knows from a distance.
7
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me;
You will stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies,
And Your right hand will save me.
8
The Lord will accomplish that which concerns me;
Your [unwavering] lovingkindness, O Lord, endures forever—
Do not abandon the works of Your own hands.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 