back in my lane

When doing more for God quietly turns into trying to do His job.

📖 Scripture

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
— Proverbs 3:5–6

“The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
He delights in every detail of their lives.”
— Psalm 37:23

📘 Bible Study

Do you ever find yourself so excited about what God is doing in your life that all you want to do is do more for Him?

You pray more.
You serve more.
You say yes to everything.
You run hard—because it feels good to be used by God.

Until… it doesn’t.

Until the clarity fades.
Until things that once felt easy start to feel heavy.
Until life becomes cloudy—on the verge of messy.

That’s usually when Satan sees his opening.

He doesn’t come crashing in loudly.
He slips in quietly—with doubt.

He whispers questions:
Are you sure this is what God meant?
Why does this feel harder now?
If God was really in this, wouldn’t it be smoother?

And sometimes—if I’m honest—I listen.

Not always for a moment.
Sometimes for an entire season.

🔄 When I Realize I’ve Taken Over

I wish I could say that doubt doesn’t get a foothold in my life anymore.
I wish I could say I immediately recognize it and shut it down.

But sometimes I look back and realize I’ve slowly slipped into doing God’s job again.

Trying to control outcomes.
Trying to fix timelines.
Trying to make things work instead of trusting Him to work.

And eventually I catch myself and laugh.

Joelle… you struggle to do your own job. Why do you keep trying to do God’s?

And with my whole heart, I believe God laughs too.

Not mockingly.
Not disappointed.

But the way a loving Father smiles, shakes His head, and says:

Silly girl. Have faith. I’ve got this.

🛣️ Getting Back Where I Belong

In my mind, it feels like God gently pulls alongside me and says:

“Let’s get you back in your lane.”

Not in front of Me—trying to lead.
Not behind Me—dragging in fear.
But right beside Me—where trust lives.

That’s where peace returns.
That’s where clarity begins again.
That’s where faith replaces fear.

🌱 The Detour Isn’t the End

The detour I took didn’t ruin anything.
It just wasn’t my road.

God didn’t abandon me there.
He didn’t punish me for wandering.
He simply waited—ready to redirect.

And when I stepped back beside Him, the journey continued.

Not perfectly.
Not instantly easier.
But rightly.

💭 Reflection

Where might you be trying to control something God never asked you to carry?

🙏 Prayer

Lord, forgive me for trying to do Your job instead of trusting You to do it.
Help me release control, quiet my fears, and step back beside You.
I want to walk where You lead—no faster, no slower—just close.
Amen.

👣 Practical Step

Today, pause before making a decision or taking on something new and ask:
“Is this my lane… or am I trying to lead instead of trust?”

💌 Invite a Friend

If this resonated with you, share it with someone who may be running hard and feeling weary.
Sometimes we all need a gentle reminder to slide back beside God.