Letting Go of the Wheel

I like knowing where I’m going.

I like plans. Routes. Backup plans. I like having at least the sense that I understand what’s coming next. Even when life is uncertain, there’s something comforting about believing I can steer things in the right direction if I try hard enough.

And I think that’s true for many of us. We don’t just want progress - we want control. We want to know that our effort, our decisions, and our planning will land us somewhere safe.

Which is why one small detail about Noah’s ark that I hadn't considered until recently unsettled me in a good way.

As far as Scripture tells us, the ark had no rudder or steering mechanism mentioned.

No steering mechanism. No way for Noah to adjust course once the floodwaters rose.

Once the door shut, Noah wasn’t navigating anymore.

He was trusting God to steer the ship.

An Ark Without a Rudder

When God instructed Noah to build the ark, He gave incredibly specific directions. Measurements. Materials. Design. Nothing was left vague. Noah followed those instructions faithfully, even when they likely seemed strange or unnecessary to the world around him.

But when it came time for the ark to float, something was missing.

There were no instructions for steering.

Genesis tells us:

“And behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth… But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark.” Genesis 6:17–18 (ESV)

Once Noah stepped inside and the door was shut, the responsibility shifted. Noah had done what God asked. Now God would do what only He could do.

The ark didn’t move and steer because Noah guided it. It moved because God carried it.

That’s a striking image, one that reframes what trust actually looks like. Noah’s faith wasn’t proven by his ability to navigate the storm. It was proven by his willingness to enter the ark without knowing where it would take him.

Our Desire to Steer

If I’m honest, much of my anxiety comes from wanting to stay in control.

I want to steer my career in the right direction. I want to steer my family toward safety and stability. I want to steer relationships so they don’t drift apart. I want to help the Church grow in faith and unity.

And when life starts to feel uncertain, my instinct isn’t to loosen my grip. It’s to tighten it. I plan more. I think more. I worry more. I convince myself that if I just manage things carefully enough, I can avoid drifting into something painful or unknown.

But Scripture consistently pushes against that instinct.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5–6 (ESV)

That passage doesn’t call us to stop thinking or planning. It calls us to stop believing that our understanding is ultimate. It invites us to place our confidence not in our ability to steer, but in God’s ability to lead.

Trusting the Captain When the Waters Rise

The flood was not a gentle experience.

The waters rose. The ground disappeared. Familiar landmarks vanished. Everything Noah knew was submerged beneath uncertainty. And yet, the ark was never safer than when it was completely surrendered to God’s direction.

That’s hard for us to accept, especially when life feels turbulent. When the waters rise in the form of job uncertainty, family tension, health concerns, or unanswered prayers, we naturally look for something to grab. Something to control.

But Noah’s story reminds us that safety doesn’t come from holding the wheel tighter. It comes from trusting the One who sees the whole journey.

The psalmist writes:

“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.” Psalm 37:5 (ESV)

God doesn’t promise calm waters. He promises His faithful presence. He promises that even when we feel adrift, we are not abandoned.

Living Without a Steering Wheel

Living under God’s leadership doesn’t mean abandoning responsibility. Noah still built the ark. He still gathered his family. He still acted in obedience, day after day, long before the rain ever came.

But once obedience was complete, direction belonged to God.

For us, this kind of trust shows up in ordinary places:

• Making thoughtful decisions, then releasing outcomes we can’t control

• Praying honestly, then trusting God with the timing and the answer

• Showing up faithfully even when the future feels unclear

Jesus speaks directly to this tension when He says:

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.” Matthew 6:34 (ESV)

Living without a steering wheel doesn’t mean we stop caring about tomorrow. It means we stop letting tomorrow rob us of trust today.

So let me ask you…

As I ask myself the same questions:

• Where am I gripping control the tightest right now?

• What part of my life feels like open water with no clear direction?

• What would it look like to trust God not just with the start, but with the steering?

• How do I usually respond when life doesn’t go according to plan?

• What small act of surrender might God be inviting me into this week?

A Closing Word for Fellow Pilgrims

Noah didn’t know where the ark would land. He didn’t know how long the flood would last. He didn’t know what the world would look like on the other side.

He only knew who had called him into the ark. And that was enough.

God is not just the architect of our lives. He is the Captain. He sees beyond what we can see. He carries us through seasons we cannot navigate on our own. And He is faithful to guide us, even when the journey feels slow, uncertain, or completely out of our control.

We may not always know the course. But we can trust the One who sets it.

Until the journey is complete,

Jonathan Pilgrim.

P.S. This week, let's identify one area of our lives where we're gripping the wheel tightly. Let us offer it to God in a prayer of surrender, and practice releasing control. Not all at once, but one faithful step at a time.