Individual Steps vs. Overall Journey

Proverbs 16:3 – “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”

Proverbs 16:9 – “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”

Proverbs 20:24 – “A person’s steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand their own way?”

A few years ago, I decided I was finally going to get serious about running. I mapped out a training plan, picked a race, and even bought new running shoes. The first week was hard, but I pushed through. The second week went okay. The third week was great; I was starting to enjoy it. However, by the fourth week, my knees started to hurt, and the “journey” I had all planned out fell apart.

That experience reminded me of something important: I knew the path I was on, but I had no control over how the steps unfolded. My map looked neat and tidy, but life rarely follows a straight line.

And that’s exactly what Proverbs teaches us: while we can and should make plans, it is the Lord who directs our steps.

We often use the expression: “Life is a journey.” And in some ways, that’s true. A journey has a starting point, a destination, and a road in between. But here’s the problem: most parts of our lives aren’t really a journey with a final destination. Think about it. Diet and exercise don’t lead to a permanent finish line. You can’t say, “I’ve arrived! I’m healthy forever.” No, you have to keep walking, keep eating well, keep exercising, or health slips away. The same is true with most areas of our lives, relationships, work, and finances. Just taking the next beneficial step.

But our spiritual life is different. It really does have a destination. There is a finish line. There is a crown of life promised to those who remain faithful. That’s why Proverbs 20:24 says the Lord directs our steps, because not only does He see the next mile, He considers the entire course.

• Proverbs 16:3 calls us to commit each individual step to God, every decision, every action.

• Proverbs 16:9 reminds us that even when we plan for the road ahead, God is the one shaping the direction of our lives.

• Proverbs 20:24 anchors us in humility: we cannot understand our own way fully, but God sees the entire course of our lives.

Together, these verses encourage us to live faithfully in each step, while trusting God with the overall journey.

Start with Dependence: Each day really does begin with a choice: “Will I walk in my own strength or surrender my way to the Lord?” Proverbs 16:3 calls us to commit every plan, big or small, into God’s hands. It’s less about writing out a perfect roadmap and more about inviting Him into the very first step of the day.

Continue with Faithfulness: Much of life isn’t about getting to the end, but staying steady in the middle. Just as diet, exercise, or maintaining relationships are measured in the ongoing, ordinary steps, faithfulness is also measured in these same ways. Proverbs 16:9 reminds us that even as we map out our routines, God is the one who establishes and guides our direction. He meets us in the daily faithfulness.

End with Trust in His Destination: Unlike health or work, our spiritual journey does lead somewhere definite: eternal life with Christ. Proverbs 20:24 reminds us to stay humble, as we can’t fully grasp how each step fits into His grand design. Therefore, we need to trust that the finish line is certain, and the One who sees the whole course is trustworthy.

Instead of giving us neat “steps,” Proverbs calls us into a rhythm: dependence at the start, faithfulness in the middle, and trust till the end. That rhythm shapes the way we live today. Walk and run confidently in a God who holds both our next stride and our eternal destination.