For this discussion, consider how the act of Trusting God can be broken down into two aspects:
1. Trusting that God directs our steps, even as we plan our course; and
2. Trusting that God is just and fair and that He will judge everything fairly.
Our duty as a Christ-follower does not entail the need to control everything to the point of questioning "Why?" when we don't get our way. Seriously, how many times have you gotten "your way" completely? Yet, oftentimes we continue to expect that everything that we plan and do will be completely within the will of God.
Proverbs 16:9 states that "A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps." What a simple verse, but what a difficult concept to understand and to accept. We often pray for things to go a certain way, and that God will bless this thing. There is nothing wrong with praying for success in our plans... but we must realize that the important thing is that we must Trust God, no matter what the outcome. Ultimately, it's the eternity that matters, not whether or not our plans follow through to successful outcomes.
A good friend recently told me about a vision of God going before us and making clear footprints in front of us... and us working diligently to try to step directly in those footsteps as we move forward. What a great word picture. If we can be so trusting of God as to look for and step directly into each of those footprints as we go, I think we are well on our way to living out Proverbs 16:9.
Work diligently, as unto the Lord, to make your plans and put all of your heart into those plans asking the Lord to bless them, but don't forget to accept the steps that God directs your feet into, even if they are not where you planned to step! Trust God!
God bless...
-atg-
