You can make many plans but the LORD’s purpose will prevail. New Living Translation
Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails. NIV
In other words, I can set goals, design stories and paintings and do all sorts of scheduling, calendaring, and other things, but God will have His way in the end. If the planning I do is according to His will, it has a better chance of succeeding, but it is still subject to His will. The story he wants told will ultimately be told. The painting He wants painted will ultimately be painted. The work He wants done will ultimately be done.
The same holds true for daily life. I am often – sometimes constantly – overwhelmed and defeated by the sheer quantity of plans and ideas with which I am presented; some from myself, many from those people around me. Most of the time, my only consolation is that I know there is simply not enough time in the day to do everything and, therefore, most of the plans are simply wishes and words. What this verse tells me is that it doesn’t matter to God what all I plan. God will do what God is going to do regardless.
It seems, therefore, like the more important question for the Christian is how well the plans he or she devises fit with God’s will. For example, how well do my plans for each painting mesh with what God wants done with each painting, drawing, or sketch? Am I seeking His will or advancing on my own?
What about my stories? Am I telling the story God wants told or am I telling a story I think should be told or that someone else wants to hear?
I don’t know what the answer is beyond thinking of Proverbs 16.3, ‘Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed,’ and combining it with the verse above, then trusting that God will use my best plans and intentions as long as they are within His will.
Otherwise, He will do what He plans to do anyway and I will suffer the loss. All I can do is what I believe I am led to do and leave the results to God.
Proverbs 19.21 says: