Thousands of years ago in Israel, a king was given a choice. God invited King Solomon: “Ask for whatever you want. Anything.” And Solomon humbly responded, “Wisdom.” God gave it to him. As if that weren’t enough, God also showered him with wealth and honor. The world bowed at Solomon’s feet. He amassed wealth and possessions and more wives than he could count.

But then this king, the one who had been given everything, let the treasures and the wives and the accolades go to his head. He stumbled and made plans that didn’t include the God who had given him everything. He walked down a narrow road that didn’t make room for his heavenly Father.

At some point in his life, a humbled Solomon admitted, “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps” (Proverbs 16:9). What a wake-up call for him. And what a wake-up call for us.

Have you ever made plans that didn’t turn out? Despite your preparation and plotting, things headed in a completely different direction? Did you have big plans for 2020, for example, then a global pandemic turned life on its head and control slipped through your fingers like grains of sand? You aren’t alone.

It’s good to plan—God wants us to use our time and our blessings wisely. But let’s not hold on too tightly. God’s plans might not be our plans. And that’s good, because he loves us and knows better than we do. Father, may your will be done.