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Let’s face it, at one time or another we’ve probably all become lost while driving. Most of us don’t get lost because we failed to plan. We get lost because we were so sure we knew the way. Our confidence often shows up just before life gently reminds us who should really be doing the driving. In today’s message, we’ll take a closer look at this. Our self reliance while driving may reveal something important about our spiritual life. I invite you to read more.
Some of us are old enough to remember an old Greyhound commercial from years ago that confidently promised, “Leave the driving to us.” It was simple, reassuring, and oddly comforting. Someone else knew the route. Someone else had done this before. Someone else would get us where we needed to go. You just had to get on board and trust the driver.
Looking back, it’s funny how quickly we abandoned that idea when it comes to life. When it comes to our plans, our goals, and the direction we’re heading, most of us prefer to take the wheel ourselves.
And we plan carefully.
We map out the route. We schedule the stops. We calculate the time. We check the weather. We feel prepared, confident, and in control. And then, despite all that planning, we still end up lost, frustrated, or wondering how we got so far off course.
Most of us have had that experience on an actual road. We’re sure we know where we’re going, so we ignore the GPS. Siri politely suggests a turn, and we think, “No, I’ve got this.” A few minutes later, we’re circling unfamiliar streets, wondering why we didn’t just listen in the first place. Eventually, we sigh, turn the volume back up, and follow the voice that was trying to help us all along.
Scripture captures that human tendency with remarkable clarity: “The human heart plans the way, but the LORD directs the steps.” (Proverbs 16:9)
That proverb doesn’t criticize planning. It simply reminds us who should be driving.
Planning is human. God designed us that way. We think ahead. We set goals. We try to make wise decisions. The trouble begins when planning quietly turns into control. When we grip the steering wheel tightly and only invite God into the conversation after we’ve already decided where we’re going.
We don’t usually intend to leave God out. We believe, we pray, and we consider ourselves to be faithful. But when it comes to major decisions, long-term goals, or deeply personal plans, we often say with our actions, “I’ve got this.” And then we ask God to bless the route we’ve already chosen.
Proverbs gently challenges that approach. It tells us that while we may plan the way, we are not meant to direct the journey alone. We need to allow the Lord to direct and guide us. He sees the road ahead, the detours we can’t anticipate, and the hazards we don’t yet recognize.
Scripture is filled with people who thought they knew the route, only to be redirected. Joseph didn’t plan on betrayal or prison. Paul didn’t plan on closed doors or rerouted journeys. The early Church didn’t plan on persecution shaping its growth. Yet God used every unexpected turn to lead them exactly where they needed to be.
This is where faith becomes more than belief. It becomes trust.
Leaving the driving to God doesn’t mean abandoning responsibility. It means surrendering control. It means planning thoughtfully while remaining open to redirection. It means listening when God says, “Turn here,” even when we’re convinced our way is faster.
The song, Jesus Take The Wheel reminded us to let Jesus be the One in charge. He knows our destination. Click below to listen.
God’s guidance is rarely dramatic. More often, His guidance sometimes comes in the form of a quiet nudge. A restlessness that won’t go away. A door that closes without explanation. A pause that forces us to slow down. Like a GPS calmly recalculating, God continues to guide us even after we’ve taken a wrong turn.
Too often we ignore His guidance and double down on our way. We push harder, rework our plan, and insist on staying on our chosen course. And that’s often when frustration sets in. Not because God has abandoned us, but because we’ve stopped listening.
The good news is that God never stops directing our steps. Even when we insist on driving for a while, He remains present, ready to guide us back. No detour is wasted. No wrong turn is beyond redemption.
Perhaps Proverbs 16:9 invites us to ask a simple but honest question: Who’s driving right now? Are we holding the wheel tightly, or have we trusted God enough to lead?
As Christians, we are not called to stop planning. We are called to stop planning alone. When we allow the Lord to direct the steps, the journey may not look like what we imagined, but it will always lead us toward deeper love, greater freedom, and a life shaped more fully by Christ.
Maybe it’s time to take our hands off the wheel and finally leave the driving to Him.
Heavenly Father, we bring You the plans we’ve made and the roads we’re traveling. Forgive us for the times we insist on driving without listening for Your guidance. Teach us to trust You with every step, especially when the route changes or the path feels uncertain. Redirect us when we stray, steady us when we hesitate, and help us believe that a life led by You will always bring us exactly where we need to be. Amen.
AMDG
AMDG is a Latin abbreviation for “Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam,” which means “For the Greater Glory of God.”
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Please take a moment to share your thoughts about today’s message below.
- Leave the Driving to Us - April 20, 2026
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