Introduction: The Illusion of Control
My brothers and sisters, we live in a world that worships at the altar of self-sufficiency. We are told from a young age to "be the captain of your own ship," to "chart your own course." We make five-year plans, we create vision boards, we are obsessed with the idea of being in control. We grip the steering wheel of our lives with white knuckles, believing that with enough effort and willpower, we can navigate the treacherous roads of life and arrive safely at our desired destination.
And then, life happens. A diagnosis we never saw coming. A job loss that shakes our financial foundation. A relationship that crumbles despite our best efforts. In these moments, the illusion of control shatters. We find ourselves lost, confused, and anxious, realizing that the map we drew for ourselves leads to a place we never intended to go.
It is in this humbling place that we find the prophet Jeremiah. He is not speaking from abstract philosophy; he is speaking from the heart of a national crisis. His people have turned away from God, trusting in their own wisdom. And in this moment of clarity and desperation, Jeremiah cries out to God with one of the most profound confessions in all of Scripture: "O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps."
This is the great realization. It is the turning point for every true believer. Today, let us look at three vital truths that flow from this one powerful verse.
I. The Acknowledgment of Our Limitation
Jeremiah begins with a settled conviction: "O LORD, I know... that the way of man is not in himself." This is the foundational step: a clear and honest admission of our own inadequacy. We are limited in at least three crucial ways.
A. We Are Limited in Our Knowledge
We simply cannot see the future. We make our plans based on the tiny fraction of reality we can perceive at this very moment. We are like a driver on a foggy mountain road, able to see only a few feet ahead. Is there a sharp turn? Is there a rockslide? We do not know. Proverbs 14:12 warns us, `There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.` That business deal that seems so right, that relationship that feels so perfect—we do not know its end. To acknowledge our limitation is to admit that God, who sees the end from the beginning, has a far better vantage point than we do.
B. We Are Limited by Our Flawed Nature
The problem is not just what we don't know, but who we are. Our nature has been bent by sin. Our desires, our ambitions, and our emotions are often unreliable guides. We are prone to pride, selfishness, fear, and impatience, all of which cloud our judgment. God Himself declares in Isaiah 55:8, `For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.` Our very best human ways are corrupted and fall short. We cannot trust ourselves to want the right things or to choose the right path consistently.
C. We Are Limited by Our Deceptive Hearts
Jeremiah, the same prophet who wrote our text, would later pen that famous diagnosis of the human condition in Jeremiah 17:9: `The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?` The modern mantra is "follow your heart," but Scripture warns that this is the most dangerous advice one could follow. Our hearts can convince us that what is destructive is desirable, and what is holy is boring. Acknowledging our limitation means we stop trusting our own fickle feelings and start trusting the unchanging character of God.
II. The Action of Humble Surrender
The verse continues: "...it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." This speaks of our daily journey. If it is not in us to direct our own steps, then we must yield that direction to God. This is an active surrender, expressed in tangible ways.
A. Surrender Through Constant Prayer
Surrender begins when prayer ceases to be a last resort and becomes our first response. It is the act of turning to God before every step, not just after we have stumbled. It is shifting our prayer from "Lord, please bless my plans" to "Lord, please reveal Your plans." A surrendered walk is a prayerful walk, where every decision, big or small, is brought before the throne of grace with the humble request, "Lord, what is my next step?"
B. Surrender Through Submission to His Word
God has not left us without a map. He has given us the Scriptures. Psalm 119:105 says, `Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.` Surrender means we allow the Bible to govern our choices. When faced with a decision, we don't first ask, "What do I want?" or "What does the culture say?" We ask, "What does God's Word say?" It means obeying His commands even when they are difficult and trusting His principles even when they seem counterintuitive.
C. Surrender Through Step-by-Step Obedience
True surrender is proven in action. It is trusting God enough to take the one step He has made clear, even if you cannot see the next ten. This is the essence of Proverbs 3:5-6: `Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.` God rarely reveals the entire blueprint at once. He calls us to a walk of faith, trusting that as we obey in the small step today, He will illuminate the path for the next step tomorrow.
III. The Assurance of Divine Guidance
To let go of control might sound frightening, but for the child of God, it is the doorway to profound peace and security. When we surrender our direction, we receive three incredible assurances.
A. The Assurance of a Secure Path
When we direct our own steps, we are vulnerable to every unforeseen danger. But when God directs our steps, we are under His sovereign protection. Psalm 37:23 promises, `The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.` The word "ordered" means fixed, established, and made firm. God doesn't just suggest a path; He establishes it. He goes before us, making the crooked places straight and protecting us from pitfalls we never even knew were there.
B. The Assurance of Abiding Peace
The weight of directing your own life is crushing. It produces anxiety, worry, and sleepless nights. Surrendering that burden to God replaces our anxiety with His peace. Philippians 4:6-7 instructs us to pray about everything, and the result is `the peace of God, which passeth all understanding.` This is the calm spirit of one who knows they are not in control, and is glad of it, because they know the One who is.
C. The Assurance of a Glorious Destination
The very best destination we could plan for ourselves pales in comparison to the destination God has prepared for us. Our plans are for temporary comfort and worldly success. His plans are for our eternal good and His eternal glory. We have the ultimate assurance of Romans 8:28, `And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.` When God is directing your steps, every twist, every turn, every delay is part of a perfect plan leading you to a glorious end.
Conclusion: Whose Hand is on the Helm?
Today, I ask you to consider the question: Who is directing your steps? Are you holding on with that white-knuckled grip, convinced that your way is the right way? Or have you come to that great, freeing realization of Jeremiah?
"O LORD, I know... it is not in me."
Maybe today you are at a crossroads. A decision about your career, your family, your future. The world is screaming its advice. Your own heart is pulling you in a dozen different directions.
The answer is not to try harder or to think smarter. The answer is to stop, to fall on your knees, and to pray Jeremiah's prayer. "Lord, I don't know the way. I cannot direct my own steps. I surrender them to You. Lead me. Guide me. Order my steps in Your Word."
When you let go, His infinitely capable hands take over. He will not fail you. He will not forsake you. He will lead you all the way home.
