How to Combine Prayer and Planning without Frustration
Getting Past Failed Plans
The Bible clearly endorses both prayer and planning. Let’s explore how we can combine them, and what to do when those well-intentioned plans fail.
Both Prayer and Planning Are Very Biblical
“The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations.” (Psalm 33:11)
“May He grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans!” (Psalm 20:4)
“Commit your works to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” (Proverbs 16:3)
“But he who is noble plans noble things, and on noble things he stands.” (Isaiah 32:8)
God is a planner! He has designed plans for our planet, people groups, and each of us as individuals, all according to His purposes.
While chaos often seems to rule our world, there are also many stable, unchanging systems in place that offer us stability, order, and peace.
We know that there are 24 hours in a day. We know that seasons come and go. We know the laws of physics are in operation daily. These are part of the stable systems God has set up for His plans.
The ideal is to align ourselves with God’s plans for our lives. When we pray over our plans and seek His guidance, He works with us to establish those plans.
When we pray for guidance and act on God’s purposes, He works with us to accomplish them. It’s a powerful and faith-building experience when God helps us accomplish our plans!
What to Do When the Plan Fails
So, what do we do when we sincerely pray for God’s plan, seek His wisdom, and take action—and the plan fails?
I’ve been there more times than I’d like to admit. I’ve prayed for God’s wisdom, made plans based on His guidance, taken action, and the plan didn’t work.
No one likes failure, and it can easily become a faith weakener or cause discouragement. It’s frustrating and makes us question whether prayer or planning is worth the effort.
Here are a few suggestions that have helped me in these situations:
1. Go Back to Jesus
When the disciples couldn’t free a boy from a demonic presence, they went to Jesus and asked why it didn’t work. Jesus gave them insights and guidance.
When your plans fail, go back to Jesus. Ask Him why it didn’t work. Sometimes He will give you a clear answer, and you will learn how to move forward.
2. Study
If you don’t get an immediate answer from Jesus, He may want you to dig deeper into His Word.
Proverbs 25:2 says, “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search it out.”
Proverbs 2 exhorts us to seek wisdom like treasure. God often hides His wisdom for those who truly value it and are willing to dig deep to find it. When you are willing to search, God will reward your efforts with greater understanding.
3. Learn from It
We all make mistakes. Perhaps we were influenced by our own desires, by circumstances, or by the wishes of others rather than listening to God’s voice. Or perhaps the timing was off, even if it was ultimately God’s plan.
When prayer and planning fail, you have two choices:
Learn from it
Quit and stop trying.
It’s clear which choice pleases God more. God works with those who take action on His plans, even if things don’t work out perfectly at first. But He can’t steer a ship that stays in harbor.
Don’t Give Up on Prayer or Planning
I’ve heard many sincere Christians say, “I tried making a plan and it didn’t work. Now, I just leave everything to God. If He wants me to do it, He’ll open the door and make it succeed.”
But have you read the Bible?
Think about Noah, who spent years building the ark even though nothing was happening.
What if Abraham had stopped believing after 18 years, before Isaac was born?
When Moses went to Pharaoh and demanded the Israelites' liberation, things got worse before God delivered them.
The Bible is full of stories where people followed God’s plans, but it didn’t work out immediately. Consider David’s experience bringing the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6). It was a God-inspired plan, but two men were struck down in the process. David was devastated, but he didn’t give up. He studied Scripture, corrected his mistake, and tried again. This time, it worked, and it became a powerful blessing for the nation.
Keep Practicing Prayer and Planning
When prayer and planning fail, don’t quit. Learn from the experience. There is no condemnation for believers—only fresh starts and opportunities to learn and grow.
My goal is to help busy believers experience God more deeply, grow consistently—both spiritually and personally—and confidently live out their unique purpose.
