April 5
Trusting
God’s Plan
"In their hearts human beings plan their lives. But the Lord decides where their steps will take them."
Proverbs 16:9 (NIrV)
Doug was a man who believed in luck. Whether it was finding a ten-dollar bill on the sidewalk or getting a promotion at work, he would say, “Guess I just got lucky.” But Doug’s belief in luck started to crumble when a series of unfortunate events shook his confidence.
It began when he lost his job unexpectedly. Doug had been a hard worker, but the company downsized, and he was let go. “What bad luck,” he muttered, shaking his head as he packed his belongings. Job hunting proved fruitless for months, and Doug started to feel hopeless.
Then his car broke down on the way to a promising interview, forcing him to cancel. Sitting by the roadside waiting for a tow truck, he muttered bitterly, “Why can’t I catch a break?”
One evening, Doug’s friend Marcus invited him to church. “You’re always talking about luck,” Marcus said, “but have you ever thought about God’s plan for your life? Maybe it’s not about luck at all.”
Doug was skeptical, but something about Marcus’s words stuck with him. That Sunday, Doug found himself sitting in a pew, listening to a sermon on Proverbs 16:9: “In their hearts human beings plan their lives. But the Lord decides where their steps will take them.”
The pastor explained how God’s plans are greater than human understanding, even when life feels uncertain or unfair. Doug felt a stirring in his heart. Could it be that all the events in his life—good and bad—weren’t random but part of a bigger plan?
That night, Doug prayed for the first time in years. “God, if You’re real, I need Your help. I’ve been trying to control everything, but nothing is working. Show me what steps You want me to take.”
Over the next few weeks, things began to change. Doug didn’t land a flashy new job or win the lottery, but he found part-time work at a nonprofit that gave him a sense of purpose. He began to notice small blessings—a neighbor offering to fix his car, a friend sharing an encouraging word.
Doug realized that what he had once dismissed as “luck” was really God’s provision. Trusting in God didn’t mean life was perfect, but it gave Doug a new sense of peace. He stopped obsessing over what he couldn’t control and started focusing on each step God placed before him.
Prayer:
Lord, we often believe life is governed by chance or luck, forgetting that You are in control of every step we take.
Help us to trust in Your perfect plan, even when things don’t go the way we expect.
Like Doug, teach us to see Your hand in every blessing and challenge.
Guide our steps, give us peace in uncertainty, and remind us that Your plans are always for our good.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
