What if Trusting God Means Letting Go of the Plan?

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” — Proverbs 3:5–6 (NKJV)

This verse is popular, sure. But lived out? It’s a battleground.

Let’s start here: Your heart wants control.
You want clarity. You want steps A through Z laid out before you say yes. But God rarely works that way. Why? Because He’s not trying to grow your comfort. He’s trying to grow your faith.

And faith, by definition, means trusting what you cannot see (Hebrews 11:1). That’s why the command starts with: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart.” No back-up plans. No “if this doesn’t work out” safety nets. This kind of trust says, “Even if it doesn’t make sense—I’m in.”

“Lean not on your own understanding.”
This is where we struggle the most. Your understanding might be based on trauma, pride, or fear. God doesn’t ask us to discard wisdom, but He warns us not to rely on it above His Word. In fact, Jeremiah 17:9 reminds us just how deceived we can be:

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?”

So why would we trust our own thoughts more than His?

“In all your ways acknowledge Him.”
This is about submission. Invite God into the process. Not just when it’s urgent—but in everything. Invite Him into the budget, the relationship, the business, the parenting, the daily grind. This is how He becomes Lord of your life—not just Savior of your soul.

“And He shall direct your paths.”
God’s direction isn’t always obvious. But it is always intentional. Sometimes He redirects through delay. Sometimes He leads through loss. But if He’s leading, it’s never aimless. The path may not be easy, but it’s right.

🧠 Reflect:

• Where are you leaning on your own understanding instead of God’s Word?
• Are there areas in your life where you’ve stopped acknowledging Him?
• What would it look like for you to trust God with all your heart—no reservations?

🙏 Prayer:
Lord, I confess that I like control. I confess I often lean on what I understand instead of who You are. Teach me to trust You fully. Help me surrender the outcome and walk in faith. I believe You will direct my steps—even when I don’t know where they’re going. In Jesus’ name, amen.