The heart of man plans his course, but ADONAI [the LORD] directs his steps. Proverbs 16:9, TLV

Our Plans?        Today, I was supposed to be with a dear friend. We only meet once a year and, oh, how I was looking forward to seeing her. Having fellowship that is so unique to us. But, well, my train was cancelled. Disappointed? Yeah. Where do I go with this? Just take the next step.

Have you ever heard of the saying, “The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry?” It is a line from the poem To the Mouse, by the 18th century Scottish author, Robert Burns.

The poem tells the story of a field mouse who carefully builds a winter nest in a wheat field, only to have it tilled over by a young farmer.

In the mouse’s small world, her location for the nest seemed perfect. In the young man’s world, there was nothing standing in the way of plowing the soil. Both plans were shortsighted due to their imperfect understanding and view of the world around them.

Our Plans are Fragile

As I thought about the story, I realized sometimes we’re the mouse and sometimes we’re the farmer. Whatever our plans, they are fragile in the light of eternity and our Heavenly Father’s kingdom. What’s even worse, they are flimsy in the face of evil.

Sometimes we have no idea just how big the world is around us, and how any given circumstance will affect our plans. At other times, we may know more of how the world works, but there are other big and little “things” at work we can’t see. And, how easy it is to “run over” others — unintentionally or intentionally — to accomplish our goals.

We may seek the LORD for our plans, or He may implant a passion in our heart we long to fulfill—in a small way like my annual visit with my friend.. He may even give us a release to proceed with the plan, but because we are flawed — and not omniscient — we can go off course with our own agendas. I know I’ve done that for a time or two.

The little mouse was not wrong in building a winter nest, it was her choice of locations that crushed the plan. On the other hand, it was necessary for the farmer to harvest his crop, however he destroyed the plans of the wee mouse.

Delays

What about those plans that are life plans—ministry, family, homes? When we have a delay in those plans, it can cause us to doubt we heard from GOD, but there may be something else at work. This is why the second half of this verse is so important.

If we go off course — if our “location” is not where He wants us — He is there to re-direct our steps. Or, He may have us slow down or linger to show us the “mouse nest” and how to avoid it.

Being open and flexible

This is where being open to altering our course, even if it’s uncomfortable or frustrating is so important. Because even in the discomfort, we can be assured He will get us to our destination. His plans never go awry.

Have you ever run over someone else’s plans? Ever have your plan overrun by someone else? How did you resolve these events?

Until tomorrow, may our Heavenly Father direct our steps, my friends. Please continue to pray for Israel and Iran.