The Purpose That Will Stand

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.

Proverbs 19:21 ESV

My family drove by our vacant lot about once a week for at least a year. The only thing that interrupted our view of weeds was a capped metal pipe about six inches in diameter. It was the water well for our soon-to-be built home. Dad had planned and planned. Soil tests, water table determination, and local regulations were completed. A local company drilled down about one hundred fifty feet for drinking water. A well that deep had to have clean and tasty water, right?  Not exactly.

We eventually moved into our newly constructed home that Dad and my older teen brother had built over six months. Our neighborhood was outside Boulder, Colorado city limits, so city water wasn’t available in 1968. Our bright white sinks and other fixtures were soon rust-stained, and the water tasted as bad as it looked. We installed a water filter on the kitchen faucet, but it barely sufficed. After a few years and more research, Dad had a shallow well dug that complied with County ordinances and it was clear, clean, and tasty! What a difference there was between the two wells. The deeper well wasn’t wasted, however. It pumped water through the yard’s sprinkler system. Later, all of the homes in our neighborhood were connected to a nearby town’s water system.

Are you a planner like my dad? Our family didn’t know God, but He still provided for us. How do your best plans turn out? Do you check with God first or ask for His advice later? I’d like to say that I consult God and listen, but that isn’t always true. Unfortunately, many times I approach God after things turn out poorly. Even good plans. He allows our plans, but His ultimate purpose will be carried out. And we can trust His ways.

What would you change in your decision-making process to demonstrate that you believe God’s perfect counsel prevails?

Karen Sims