The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord.—Proverbs 21:31 (NIV)

Her crossed arms, scowling face, and the tears streaming down her cheeks all told the same story. This little kindergartner wasn’t having it. Exhausted and overstimulated, she communicated contempt for our graduation celebration. Her presence sharply contrasted with her peers who raised their hands and voices as they worshipped the Lord. 

As her teacher I felt compelled to do something. I nervously leaned over and whispered to our chaplain, “Should I take her off of the stage?”

For the first time the chaplain seemed to see my student. “No,” she responded, “just sit back and enjoy the celebration. We aren’t in charge anyway. He is.” Then she settled in her seat and continued to smile as she watched our kindergartners recite their Bible verses.

I have always had control issues. To avoid failure, I plan and prepare extensively. Once those plans are put in place, I hover—always ready to intervene to ensure success. That night the chaplain taught me a life lesson. We need to plan and prepare. But we don’t control the outcome. Only God does.

I’ve revisited this lesson during different seasons of my life: 

• Anytime someone exercises free will and doesn’t meet my expectations
• When I faithfully followed a healthy eating plan but the number on the scale didn’t budge
• The times I put forth my best effort, but someone else received the promotion or opportunity

Always the same lesson, just in different contexts. 

Recently I came across this familiar verse which speaks so powerfully to my need for control:

The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord. (Proverbs 21:31 NIV)

Horses played a significant role in the wars of the Old Testament because their agility, speed, and strength could significantly influence the outcome. To be effective, these horses received extensive training to build stamina and the ability to handle loud sounds. But, as the proverb points out, this training, although necessary, isn’t enough. Ultimately, the Lord determines the victory.

I can’t help being a planner. It’s part of my DNA. It’s also commended throughout the Bible. But I am learning to surrender those plans to the Lord as part of my morning prayers. This practice reminds me that ultimately the Lord determines the outcomes.  And while victory comes from the Lord, it doesn’t always match my expectations. Sometimes it looks like:

• Respecting other people’s decisions and surrendering my expectations
• Persevering through stalls and setbacks
• Embracing redirections from the Lord

But even in the imperfections, the Lord is always sovereign. That kindergarten graduation happened nearly twenty years ago. No one could make my student happy or participate in the celebration. Maybe her family chuckles at the memory… Do you remember when you refused to enjoy your kindergarten celebration? When I look back, I simply remember the lesson the Lord gave me. And that lesson is its own reward.

Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for reminding us that planning and preparing are our responsibility. But ultimately, You decide the outcomes. Even when the outcomes aren’t what we desired, or expected, we are confident in Your decisions. Help us to do our part and then to trust You with Yours. We pray this in Your name. Amen.