There are many plans in a man’s heart

.... Nevertheless the LORD’S counsel—that will stand (Proverbs 19:21). The relationship of God's providence (His divine guidance and care),  to the will of man is a puzzle to many.  When we hear of a tragedy we wonder why God did not prevent it. I mean is God in control or not?  The atheist's argument against the existence of God  surrounds this question. Either God is not all powerful, or He is not good. The Christian affirms both that He is all powerful,  and He is good.  Nevertheless evil certainly exists, which if He is all powerful He must for some reason allow. But why is this?  There are no simple answers to these questions. In terms of control,  God humbled King Nebuchadnezzar till he know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses (Daniel 4:25b). The Lord clearly intervened in this situation.  But obviously there are times He does not intervene when we  think that perhaps He should. But we don't see the whole picture, and the position of faith is to believe that He has His reasons. We can of course pray and ask Him to change things and/or to help us to understand.

This morning's proverb however has more to do with the plans we make, and how that fits into the purposes and sovereignty of God.  Most of the time, the Lord deals differently with the believer than  with the unbeliever. Many times God gives the unbeliever over, as He did with  Nebuchadnezzar, until we come to the end of ourselves. His  forbearance, and longsuffering, is there to lead  to repentance (Romans 2:4). The believer is not his own, he is bought with a price
(1 Corinthians 6:19, 20),  and God's expectation is that we be servants of righteousness (Romans 6:19). In particular for the believer to make plans without acknowledging Him is spoken of as arrogance (i.e James 4:13-16).  If we make plans outside His purposes for us (as we probably all do at times), He may or may not intervene. Still “the purpose of the LORD will prevail,” as another translation of this morning verse puts it.

However like a petulant child,  the believer can nag, and nag, and nag at the Father. In many ways He encourages it, as in Parable of the widow and the unjust Judge (Luke 18:1-8). He may not give it if  our motives are wrong (James 4:3).  Sometimes however the Lord will give us the desires of our hearts,  but bring leanness to our souls (Psalm 106:15 NKJV). In such cases His dealing is similar to that of the unbeliever. You don't want to go there. In the end it's all about relationship, in order to avoid these things,  we need to trust Him with our heart desires, and  acknowledge Him in all our ways. When we do this, He has promised to direct our paths and make them straight (Proverbs 3:5, 6).
 

Father, the previous verse in Proverbs admonishes us to “listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter days.” You have made us to need each other, and this too flies in the face of the rugged North American individualism.  But Lord You have promised that if we humble ourselves under Your mighty hand, You will exalt us in due season (1 Peter 5:6).  And this will bring You glory too. Please help us Lord in these things,  in Jesus Name Amen