Humble Trust


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Even with the best plans, things may not turn out the way we want it to. So, when we plan, make room for God’s intervention. Proverbs 16:9 tells us, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” According to the Good News Translation, “You may make your plans, but God directs your actions.” This is the principle of humble trust: “When we have chosen what is moral and wise, we must trust the sovereign God to work all the details together for good.” [1]
In all decisions, the believer should humbly accept, in advance, the outworking of God's sovereign will as it touches each decision. … Since the sovereign will of God cannot be known in advance (it is secret), it has no direct bearing on the activity of decision-making. On the other hand, since the sovereign will of God ultimately determines whether and/or when our plans are accomplished, its reality should govern our attitude in decision making. Humble planning is the proper response to the sovereign will of God. Then, we trust in Him to work all things together for good. [2]
God should have the first word, the last word and every word in between. Thus, it’s not that we plan and then we present it before God to bless it. That’s not how it works. We must bathe the whole process in prayer from beginning to end.

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Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. (James 4:13-16. Emphasis added.)
The Bible encourages us to plan ahead. But, it discourages us from planning without God in the picture. If we plan without Him, then that is arrogance. We don’t even have control if we would still be alive the next day or even the next moment. And there are times that, even if we failed to plan well or we made the wrong decisions, God in His merciful sovereignty can turn our mess into His message.

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“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) Though His intervention is not an excuse for not planning at all, we can trust God that He would go even beyond our best plans. “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.” (Proverbs 19:21) Or, as The Message goes, “We humans keep brainstorming options and plans, but God’s purpose prevails.” That’s why when our plans go awry, don’t be dismayed or disappointed. Trust that the Lord knows what He is doing in and through you.

“Will of God” Step
Reflect on the hymn, “Have Thine Own Way, Lord.” Make it your personal prayer.



Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way! / Thou art the potter, I am the clay. / Mold me and make me after thy will, / while I am waiting, yielded and still. 

Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way! / Search me and try me, Savior today! / Wash me just now, Lord, wash me just now, / as in thy presence humbly I bow. 

Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way! / Wounded and weary, help me I pray! / Power, all power, surely is thine! / Touch me and heal me, Savior divine! 

Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way! / Hold o’er my being absolute sway. / Fill with thy Spirit till all shall see / Christ only, always, living in me! 

NOTE: This is Day Four of the devotional guide (Volume 1, Issue 8) of our church, Filinvest Community Christian Fellowship, for the message on “Pass It On! (Part 3)” last April 19.  

[1] Garry Friesen (2004-2005), “Principles for Decision Making,” Garry Friesen, retrieved from http://www.gfriesen.net/. 

[2] Ibid. Italics his. Emphasis added.


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