“We can make our own plans, but the Lord gives the right answer. People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives. Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.” (Proverbs 16:1-3).
I find my strength in only one thing… I find strength and happiness in knowing that no matter what happens the Lord has my best interest at heart. Even though I think I may know what I want God really knows what is best for me. I make plans which I believe we are called to do but I believe that God gives me the right answer, which means I must be willing to change my expectations for God’s. That is true strength. People always think they know what is right for them so in their own eyes they are right and pure but the Holy Spirit inside of us tells us our motives. If I never lose sight of God then know matter what I believe I truly will succeed. It is easy to become prideful in our lives because we think that we can or did “it” on our own. This is dangerous though because,
“There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.” (Proverbs 16:25)
Not physical death because one out of one people will die… but spiritual death. We must as believers know that we may do big things in life but our character has to match our calling of God because if it does not we will reach our calling and our character will not be strong enough to hold us there. We need to know that it was because of God that we are able to have a calling in life. It was not you and you alone… that’s why they say the pride comes before the fall.
When we hear the word perseverance we think of strength and power. But where does that strength come from? Do we find it in our own self-will? Or do we discover this strength to persevere in the depths of our faith? Proverbs chapter 16 has abundant advice for us on how to persevere in life. We can be enticed to fall into traps throughout life that can weigh us down, and many of these snares are found in the form of worldly behavior. The world tells us to stand in the face of adversity and laugh! The Word of God shows us to kneel in the face of adversity and pray. 
Worldliness thrives on self-will and promotes defiance as the answer to all of life’s problems. This type of pride and rebelliousness can set one up for the eventual fall. Proverbs 16:25 informs us that there is a way that seems right to man, but that way leads to destruction. As we prepare our hearts to follow the ways of the Lord by accepting his guidance and counsel, we will find the strength to persevere in all areas of our life. Perseverance does not come from a hard exterior but rather from a soft heart that will receive the instruction of the Lord.
Dr. William A. Horton 