No More Gathering Thoughts

“We can gather our thoughts, but the Lord gives the right answer” (Proverbs 16:1, NLT).

This morning I needed a verse to encourage me. My mind was torn suddenly in the night with some thoughts that were very difficult and heart-breaking if true. I prayed to the Lord to help me sort them out, and not to make wrong assessments about them. I wasn't terrorized in fear by them or feeling condemnation, so I believed that the Lord might want to teach me something or correct me about something. My mind played havoc with my heart, and I realized that I just needed to give it all to the Lord. So I prayed and I fell back asleep.

Just a few minutes ago I was ready to read and pray, and I opened my NLT Bible to Proverbs 16:1. What I read sounded as if it came right out of the Lord's mouth. I can gather my thoughts all I want, but the Lord gives the right answer. This told me right away that I was not to try to reason and “gather my thoughts” about what I thought about in the night. It told me that he would give me the right answer.

I went online to Bible Gateway to read other versions of this verse, but before I read the other versions, I checked the NLT version. It read, “we can make our own plans, but the Lord gives the right answer.” I looked at my old NLT in my hand. It still read “we can gather our thoughts”, and it did not read “we can make our own plans.” The meanings were similar, but this morning I needed to read that it was useless for me to “gather my own thoughts.”

God amazes me. I still don't know what the thoughts were all about in the night. But He will give me the right answer when He is ready to give it to me. And I have peace about that. The thoughts will not be difficult or heart-wrenching now. He will give me the right answer at the right time. I just need to stop “gathering my thoughts” about all of it.

My version of the NLT is an older one wrapped in duct tape because it is falling apart. I treasure it this morning more than ever before. God knew exactly what was there, and the exact wording that would bring peace to my heart.