Letting Go of My Plan for God's Purpose

Main scriptures:

Romans 8:7

Luke 22:42

After losing my father at the age of 15, it felt like life suddenly hit fast-forward. I was overwhelmed by the pressure to keep it all together—to be strong, to figure things out quickly, and to carry a responsibility I never asked for. In my heart and mind, I believed I had to grow up instantly and not let anyone down. Looking back now, I realize that was a heavy burden for a 15-year-old to carry.

By the time I turned 17 and entered my senior year of high school, I had already mapped out an ambitious life plan. I was determined to graduate, go to law school, and become a top sports agent—especially since I was an athlete myself at the time. My plan left no room for error or detours. Everything had to be perfectly aligned in order for me to succeed.

Now that I reflect on it, I see that my plan wasn’t rooted in God’s will—it was driven by selfish ambition. I wanted success, status, education, and money. My idea of purpose was tied to being part of a certain crowd and reaching worldly milestones. The truth is, I was trying to force God to accept my plan, rather than allowing Him to direct and order my steps according to His purpose for me.

Fast forward to today, I am nowhere near the path I envisioned back then. But the beauty of it is, I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. Why? Because I finally gave God control of the ship. Once I surrendered my plans to Him, He began guiding my life in ways I never could have imagined.

Take moving to Chicago, for example. I had only visited the city once before deciding to relocate—not just to rent, but to buy a home. That was never part of my plan. But God made it possible and opened doors I didn’t even know existed.

The reason I’m sharing this part of my story is to remind both you and myself that when we try to navigate life without submitting to God, we can end up lost—pursuing paths that were never meant for us. I have to remind myself daily: "My life is not my own." That means my decisions, my direction, and my destiny are not mine to control—they’re shaped by God's will.

Our ultimate purpose in life isn’t to chase personal success, but to serve God’s plan. When we surrender our expectations and allow Him to lead, He will take us to places beyond what we could ever plan for ourselves.

Romans 8:7 (ESV) says:

"For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot." 

In this verse, Paul reminds us that a mind focused on worldly desires—status, success, recognition—cannot align with God’s will. This mindset ultimately leads to spiritual death because it resists God's authority.

On the other hand, Jesus modeled perfect surrender in Luke 22:42 (NLT):

"Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine." 

In His moment of deepest agony, Jesus chose obedience. He didn’t run from God's will—He embraced it. And that act of surrender changed everything.

Proverbs 19:21 (ESV)

"Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand."

This verse emphasizes that while humans can make numerous plans and have various ideas in their mind, some of our plans may be wise and come may be foolish, but there are many plans in a man's heart. It is God's will and purpose that will ultimately prevail and our lives.

Like Jesus, we are called to pray with a heart of submission: "Father, not my will, but Yours be done." It's through life's challenges, disappointments, and detours that we learn obedience and discover the beauty of fully trusting God's plan. I truly believe, that before we can fully submit to God's plans for our lives, we have to fully surrender and relinquish control.

Prayer of Surrender:

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for being a loving and sovereign God who sees the full picture even when I only see a piece. Lord, I confess that there have been many times in my life when I tried to force my plans, chase status, and define success on my own terms. I pursued ambition without asking if it aligned with Your will. Like Romans 8:7 says, a mind set on the flesh cannot submit to You—and I don’t want to live in that space any longer.

Today, I surrender.

I surrender the pressure to have it all figured out. I surrender the fear of failure, the need for control, and the temptation to chase things that only feed my ego. Help me to shift my mindset from “my plan” to “Your purpose.” Like Jesus prayed in the garden before His suffering, I echo His words from Luke 22:42: “Not my will, but Yours be done.”

Father, even when the road is uncomfortable or unfamiliar, help me to trust that You are guiding me toward something greater than I could ever plan for myself. Remind me daily that my life is not my own—I was created for You and by You, to walk in obedience and purpose. Give me peace when Your way interrupts mine, and faith when the outcome looks different than I expected.

Lead me, Lord. I’ll follow.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Reflection Question:

What is one area of your life - whether it's your career, relationships, or future goals - where God may be asking you to let go and trust His plan instead of your own?