Proverbs 21:31: “The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord.”
No matter how well you prepare for something, God is ultimately in control.
When Solomon wrote this Proverb, horses were thought of differently than what you might imagine today. They were fierce, strong, wild animals used by people for one single purpose: war. The strongest and most sophisticated armies used horses in battle, and they were an immediate signal of power, but Solomon said victory wasn’t dependent on how well prepared and fierce an army was; it was dependent on God.
It’s important to recognize that God is almighty, all-powerful, and ultimately in control. No matter how well you prepare for life, you will never be fully in control. You may be as strong and equipped as a horse headed into battle, but there are still elements of this world that you can’t control. You can’t control what other people do; you can’t control every outcome; you can’t control what happens to you. However, you can place your faith in our almighty God. Even in the midst of pain and struggling and unforeseen circumstances, Jesus is in control. That doesn’t mean He will stop every evil act or unfair occurrence, but it does mean He is victorious in the end. He’s defeated sin and death through His resurrection, so goodness ultimately wins.
Is your faith in Jesus, or is your faith in yourself?