--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Mortals make elaborate plans, but GOD has…" description: "\"“Mortals make elaborate plans, but GOD has the last word.”\" — Eugene H. Peterson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f96/eugene-h-peterson-1745_death_mortals-make-elaborate-plans-but-god-has_376549.png" --- # Mortals make elaborate plans, but GOD has the last word. ![“Mortals make elaborate plans, but GOD has the last word.” quote by Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f96/eugene-h-peterson-1745_death_mortals-make-elaborate-plans-but-god-has_376549.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f96/eugene-h-peterson-1745_death_mortals-make-elaborate-plans-but-god-has_376549.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f96/eugene-h-peterson-1745_death_mortals-make-elaborate-plans-but-god-has_376549.png) > ““Mortals make elaborate plans, but GOD has the last word.”” [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human plans are detailed, but ultimately divine will overrides them, reminding humility. **In simple terms:** God decides after humans plan. Key Takeaway Accept uncertainty and trust higher purpose. Themes faith humility planning Mood thoughtful hopeful Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - personal decision‑making - spiritual reflection - goal setting Key Concepts theology divine providence Questions to Reflect On - What plans have you surrendered? - How do you balance planning with faith? A Different Perspective Human agency still matters in daily life. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Elaborate Plans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elaborate-plans-3424256/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [God Word](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-word/) [Last Word](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/last-word/) [Mortals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mortals/) [Mortals Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mortals-make-3424257/) [Plans God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plans-god-401266/) ## Related quotes > [And certainly, the mistakes that we male and female mortals make when we have our own way might fairly raise some wonder that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/and-certainly-the-mistakes-that-we-male-and-female-mortals-make-when/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [We are silent at the beginning of the day because God should have the first word, and we are silent before going to sleep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/we-are-silent-at-the-beginning-of-the-day-because-god-should-have-the/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“Man makes his plans. God has his own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sujatha-gidla/man-makes-his-plans-god-has-his-own/) [Sujatha Gidla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sujatha-gidla/) > [Circumstances may appear to wreck our lives and God’s plans, but God is not helpless among the ruins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-liddell/circumstances-may-appear-to-wreck-our-lives-and-god-s-plans-but-god/) [Eric Liddell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-liddell/) > [“Life, John Lennon famously said, is what happens to you while you’re making other plans. Now that I think of it, Lennon, that wizard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-levine/life-john-lennon-famously-said-is-what-happens-to-you-while-you-re/) [Paul Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-levine/) > [“God Will Change You Many plans are in a man’s mind, but it is the Lord’s purpose for him that will stand. PROVERBS 19:21…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/god-will-change-you-many-plans-are-in-a-man-s-mind-but-it-is-the-lord/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [“I want to tell you a growing conviction with me, and that is that as we obey the leadings of the Spirit of God,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/i-want-to-tell-you-a-growing-conviction-with-me-and-that-is-that-as/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [I try not to make plans. God always laughs at your plans,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/i-try-not-to-make-plans-god-always-laughs-at-your-plans/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [“Man plans and God laughs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-chercover/man-plans-and-god-laughs/) [Sean Chercover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-chercover/) > [Man makes plans . . . and God laughs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/man-makes-plans-and-god-laughs/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [“Human schemes can never carry out the plans of God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-h-sailhamer/human-schemes-can-never-carry-out-the-plans-of-god/) [John H. Sailhamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-h-sailhamer/) > [The first part of every day, submit your plans to God and say, God, I know Youre in control so I submit my plans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/the-first-part-of-every-day-submit-your-plans-to-god-and-say-god-i/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [“You wanna know how to make God laugh?" he said. "Tell him your plans." (God-shaped Hole)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-debartolo/you-wanna-know-how-to-make-god-laugh-he-said-tell-him-your-plans-god/) [Tiffany Debartolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-debartolo/) > [Man plans. God laughs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/man-plans-god-laughs/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [If you've never had a God-sized dream that scared you half to death, then you haven't really come to life. If you've never been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/if-you-ve-never-had-a-god-sized-dream-that-scared-you-half-to-death/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) ## More by Eugene H. Peterson > [“Forget about deciding what’s right for each other. Here’s what you need to be concerned about: that you don’t get in the way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/forget-about-deciding-what-s-right-for-each-other-here-s-what-you/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [Like a child exploring the attic of an old house on a rainy day, discovering a trunk full of treasure and then calling all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/like-a-child-exploring-the-attic-of-an-old-house-on-a-rainy-day/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [“Liturgy gathers the holy community as it reads the Holy Scriptures into the sweeping tidal rhythms of the church year in which the story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/liturgy-gathers-the-holy-community-as-it-reads-the-holy-scriptures/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [“The core message of the gospel is that God invades us with new life, but the setting for this is most often in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/the-core-message-of-the-gospel-is-that-god-invades-us-with-new-life/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [“Liturgy puts us to work along with all the others who have been and are being put to work in the world by and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/liturgy-puts-us-to-work-along-with-all-the-others-who-have-been-and/) [Eugene H. 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Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [Religion is a very scary thing, because a pastor is in a position of power. And if you use that power badly, you ruin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/religion-is-a-very-scary-thing-because-a-pastor-is-in-a-position-of/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [The vocation of pastor(s) has been replaced by the strategies of religious entrepreneurs with business plans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/the-vocation-of-pastor-s-has-been-replaced-by-the-strategies-of/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [Repentance is a realization that what God wants from you and what you want from God are not going to be achieved by doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/repentance-is-a-realization-that-what-god-wants-from-you-and-what-you/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [It's essential for us to develop an imagination that is participatory. Art is the primary way in which this happens. It's the primary way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/it-s-essential-for-us-to-develop-an-imagination-that-is-participatory/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [“My uncle Ernie didn't believe in God. At least that's what he said. But he always Went to church on Christmas. Which I thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/my-uncle-ernie-didn-t-believe-in-god-at-least-that-s-what-he-said-but/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [You don't make your words true by embellishing them with religious lace. In making your speech sound more religious, it becomes less true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/you-don-t-make-your-words-true-by-embellishing-them-with-religious/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [“And the remainder of the Message details God’s intricate and loving plan to redeem, restore, and reconcile creation back to himself after what happened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/and-the-remainder-of-the-message-details-god-s-intricate-and-loving/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) [Explore all 210 Eugene H. 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The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. I should let him bite me to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-to-live-at-the-cost-of-the-life-even-of-a-snake-i/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [Retirement? You're talking about death, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-altman/retirement-you-re-talking-about-death-right/) [Robert Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-altman/) > [With multiplayer, permanent death, and an ever-changing world to explore and conquer, 'A Valley Without Wind' might be the place you're looking for if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-manuel/with-multiplayer-permanent-death-and-an-ever-changing-world-to/) [Rob Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-manuel/) > [“What did you see?” she asked gently. His brow furrowed, as if he could not understand the question. Then his eyes turned to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-anthony-torino/what-did-you-see-she-asked-gently-his-brow-furrowed-as-if-he-could/) [J. Anthony Torino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-anthony-torino/) > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“I practice Dying--every night-- But have not learned to, still-- Though Talented--by Mortal bones-- For such a common Skill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-powers/i-practice-dying-every-night-but-have-not-learned-to-still-though/) [Alan W. 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