You're Not Supposed to Have It All Figured Out!

Have you ever felt pressure to have your entire life figured out? Whether it's your career, relationships, finances, or future, the weight of making the "right" decision can feel overwhelming. In this episode of The Intentional Grounding Godcast – Letters to Isaiah, Coach Dombrowski unpacks Jeremiah 10:23 (NIV), where Jeremiah humbly acknowledges that we were never created to direct our own steps apart from God. This timeless truth reminds us that surrender isn't weakness—it's wisdom.

Together we'll explore the historical context of Jeremiah's prayer, the deeper meaning behind his words, practical ways to seek God's direction, and how trusting the Lord brings peace even when the path ahead is uncertain. If you're facing a difficult decision or simply need the reminder that God sees what you cannot, this episode will encourage you to stop striving to control everything and start walking confidently with the One who already knows the way.

Transcript

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Have you ever been completely convinced that you knew what you were doing, only to realize later that you were heading in the wrong direction? Man, we spend so much of our lives making plans and chasing goals and trusting our own instincts. Culture tells us to follow your heart and to trust yourself. But what if your heart isn't the best GPS? Today we're looking at one verse that completely changes the way we should approach every decision we make. And by the end of today's episode, you'll understand why God never intended for your life to be navigated on your own. How to surrender actually creates freedom instead of weakness and what it practically looks like to let God direct your path every single day. Well, our scripture today comes from one of the most honest prayers found in the book of Jeremiah. Jeremiah wasn't pretending to have all the answers. He wasn't projecting confidence for the sake of appearances. Instead, he admitted something every believer eventually discovers. Jeremiah, he ministered during one of Israel's darkest periods. The nation had rejected God. People trusted politics more than obedience. They trusted idols more than the Creator. And they believed they could determine their own future without listening to God. And Jeremiah watched these consequences unfold. And in the middle of this national rebellion, Jeremiah offered a deeply personal prayer that still speaks directly to us today. And it says Jeremiah 10 23, Lord, I know that people's lives are not their own. It's not for them to direct their steps. Wow. So the Hebrew word translated direct carries the idea of establishing, preparing, or making a firm path. And Jeremiah isn't saying people can't make decisions here. He's saying we were never designed to determine the ultimate direction of our lives apart from God. Also, notice something else. Jeremiah begins with, Lord, I know. And this isn't just information, it was conviction. He learned this through experience. Israel had spent generations trying to direct their own future. And every time they walked away from God, destruction followed. Like the original audience here would have immediately connected this prayer with the repeated cycle throughout the history of Israel, right? God gives direction. The people ignore him, they suffer consequences. They cry out, God restores them. And Jeremiah finally acknowledged this lesson: life works better under God's direction. All right. So again, Jeremiah is not teaching that people have no responsibility. God still expects us to think and to plan and to work, to make wise decisions. What Jeremiah rejects is the belief that human wisdom alone is sufficient. God doesn't call us to passive living, He calls us to dependent living. And one of the greatest struggles in our generation is the illusion of control. We build calendars and budgets, career plans, five-year goals, retirement strategies, and none of those things are wrong. The danger comes when we begin believing that we are actually in control. I mean, how many times have your life gone exactly according to plan? Probably not many. The job changes, relationships change, health changes, finances change, unexpected phone calls change everything. I mean, life reminds us over and over again that we're not holding the steering wheel as tightly as we think. That's exactly where Jeremiah lands. Lord, I know. Not because life was easy, because life taught him. There is incredible peace that comes from admitting you don't have to carry the weight of directing everything yourself. I mean, imagine driving across the country using a map from 30 years ago. Roads changed, cities expanded, bridges have been built. And without updated directions, eventually, yeah, you get lost. I mean, trying to navigate life without God is exactly like that. The creator knows every road ahead because, well, he designed the destination. God sees tomorrow while we're still trying to figure out today. That's why surrender isn't weakness, it's wisdom. Ask yourself today, you know, where am I insisting on my own way? What decision have I made first without seeking God's direction? Are you asking God to bless your plans or are you asking him to reveal his? There's a huge difference, right? Maybe you're making a career decision or you're trying to repair a marriage or you're considering a relationship or you're trying to choose a college or start a business, wondering maybe if it's time to move on. Whatever your decision is that you're facing, you don't have to pretend that you've got it all figured out. God has never required perfection before guidance. He simply is asking for surrender. So instead of saying, Man, I hope God blesses what I've decided, start praying. God help me decide what you've already blessed. One prayer seeks approval, but the other seeks alignment. Here's a simple three-step practice for you this week. First, pause. All right, before making a significant decision, stop long enough to pray. Second, search. Ask, what does God's word say about this? Never separate God's guidance from the truth. And third, submit. Be willing to change your plans if God redirects them. That is trust. And if you continue learning to seek God's direction before making your own, man, your confidence won't come from having every answer. It's going to come from knowing who is leading you. And you'll begin making decisions with greater peace, a lot more wisdom for sure, and definitely patience. Not because your life's getting easier, but because you're no longer carrying the burden of trying to be your own guide. Tomorrow morning, before you check your phone, before you look at the calendar, before diving into your to-do list, pray this simple prayer. Lord, today my steps belong to you. Direct them wherever you want me to go. Then pay attention. You might find God's direction comes through his word, some counsel or an unexpected opportunity, or even a closed door that protects you from the wrong path. And one of the harder truths for us to accept is that surrender actually expands our freedom. You see, the world teaches that freedom means doing whatever we want. The Bible teaches that true freedom comes from living the way we're created to live. Think about a train. All right. A train is most free when it stays on the tracks. The tracks don't restrict it, they enable it. Right? The moment it leaves the track, it isn't experiencing freedom. It's experiencing disaster. The same is true for us. God's direction isn't designed to limit our lives, it's designed to maximize them. Jeremiah understood something that a lot of people spend decades resisting. Our lives were never ours to independently direct. They were entrusted to us by the God who loves us enough to lead us. And the more closely we walk with him, the less we have to fear about what lies ahead. Right? The greatest legacy that you can leave isn't proving how capable you were. It's demonstrating how faithfully you followed God. Your family might not remember every success you achieved, but they're going to remember a life that consistently sought God's direction before making life's biggest decisions. That's my grandson Isaiah. One day you'll have to make decisions that nobody else can make for you. You'll choose friends, a career, a wife, where to live, how to raise a family. People will tell you to trust your instincts. Some will probably tell you just to follow your heart. But I want you to remember something. Something that Jeremiah discovered thousands of years ago. The safest place you'll ever stand isn't where everything makes sense. It's wherever God's leading. So don't be afraid to pray before you decide. Don't be embarrassed to change direction if God redirects you. The strongest men I've ever known weren't the ones who had all the answers. They were the ones humble enough to ask God for them. And if you learn that lesson early on, man, you're going to avoid a lot of unnecessary pain. I love you, buddy. Guys, imagine hiking through unfamiliar mountains with a guide who has walked the trails hundreds of times. You could insist on leading because you're confident, or you could trust the guide who already knows every dangerous cliff, every safe crossing, and exactly how to get you home. Jeremiah reminds us that life is much the same. God never asked us to know every turn in the trail, He asked us to trust the one who does. So today, surrender one decision that you've been carrying on your own and invite God to direct your steps. Thanks so much for joining me today. If this message encouraged you, please share it with someone who's trying to figure out the next step in life and needs to remember that God is the best guide. You never know whose life God might touch through a simple act of obedience. Please make sure you follow the podcast and subscribe to the YouTube channel at Coach Dombrowski for a verse of the day, some short videos, faith-based motivation to help you stay grounded throughout the week. Until next time, Coach Dombrowski out. I'll be praying for you.