What is the main idea behind “We Plan. God Establishes.”?

Drawing on Proverbs 16:9, the message teaches that human beings plan their course but God establishes their steps. Planning isn’t wrong, but our plans are never the final word, God’s direction takes precedence even when our plans don’t work out.

What does Jeremiah 29:11 mean in the context of a new year?

Jeremiah 29:11 was written to people in captivity in Babylon, promising God’s plans to prosper them, give them hope, and a future, even though it would take seventy years. The point is that God sees beyond our timeline and is faithful even when a plan takes far longer than expected or looks nothing like we hoped.

What if my plans from last year didn’t work out?

The message reframes “grow, build, and serve” as directions to move toward rather than a performance review to pass or fail. Even when specific plans fail, like a father’s failed business or a lonely birthday party that turned into a packed house of strangers, God can still be present and working through what looks like failure.

How should someone approach setting goals for a new year?

Instead of a long list of resolutions, the message suggests choosing a single word, verse, or posture, like prayer, to anchor the year, then trusting God to establish the specific steps along the way.