God Establishes Our Steps. Proverbs 16:9
- Frank Wible
- Jun 27
- 2 min read
Mike had always been a man with a plan. By 35, he was set to become a partner at his engineering firm, with a corner office and six-figure salary. He mapped out every milestone: marriage by 28, kids by 30, house by 32. Life went exactly as planned—until the company announced mass layoffs during an unexpected merger.

At first, he refused to believe it. He worked late every night, desperate to prove his worth. But on a rainy Friday afternoon, his boss called him in. “I’m sorry, Mike. Your position has been eliminated.” Walking to his car with a box of belongings, he felt like the world had gone silent.
Days turned into weeks of job searching and rejection emails. Bills piled up. His wife, Jenna, tried to encourage him, but he withdrew into silence. He would sit for hours in the backyard, staring blankly at the fence, wondering how his perfectly crafted life had unraveled so fast.
One morning, Jenna placed a cup of coffee beside him and said softly, “I know you’re hurting. But maybe it’s time to ask God what He wants for you now.” Mike snapped back, “I planned everything for us! Where was God in this?”
That day, he opened his dusty Bible and read Proverbs 16:9: “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” He felt the words pierce his pride. For years, he thought his success was from his strategy, not God’s provision.
In the following weeks, he woke up early to pray before job hunting. He started each morning by saying, “Lord, establish my steps today.” Peace began to replace panic. Even without a job, he felt lighter, as though a burden he didn’t realize he carried had been lifted.
One Sunday, the pastor asked if anyone needed prayer. Mike stood up, tears welling. “I always thought my plans would hold my family together,” he said. “But now I see only God can do that.” After service, an older man named Richard approached him.

Richard owned a small construction company and needed someone to handle project bids and scheduling. “It’s not engineering work,” he said, “but I see something in you. Would you be willing to help out part-time while you figure out what’s next?”
Mike accepted. The pay wasn’t impressive, but each day he felt purpose returning. He learned how to pour concrete footers, oversee roof repairs, and coordinate teams. More importantly, he saw the integrity with which Richard ran his business—always stopping to pray over jobs, workers, and clients.
Months later, Mike realized he no longer wanted to return to corporate life. He wanted to build something that honored God like Richard did. With Richard’s mentorship, he started his own small handyman service, praying before every job and treating each customer like a ministry opportunity.
Looking back, he laughs at his old plans. “I thought a title and salary made me a man,” he often says. “But losing them showed me what really does: trusting God to establish your steps—because His path is always better.”
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