The late, great martial artist Bruce Lee, one of the world’s most brilliant minds, once said, “The great mistake is to anticipate the outcome of the engagement; you ought not to be thinking of whether it ends in victory or defeat. Let nature take its course, and your tools will strike at the right moment.”
In essence, he was saying that focusing too much on the outcome—whether winning or losing—can prevent you from responding effectively in the moment. But when you let go of expectations and trust the process, your actions will come naturally, and you’ll strike at the right time.
This reminds me of what Ecclesiastes 7:8 says: “Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit."
Life isn’t predictable. It’s not a crystal ball that lets us see into the future, nor a magic wand that makes our problems disappear. Every day is different, just as no two people are the same. And if you’ve lived long enough, you know that life brings both victories and setbacks. But it’s not about where you start—it’s about where you finish. The key is trusting that God is in control, even when the path isn’t clear.
Yet, so many of us carry burdens we were never meant to bear. We’re weighed down by worries—about family, finances, health, work, school, and everything in between. When life overwhelms you, what do you do? Do you try to handle it all on your own, or do you surrender it to God?
“Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken." — Psalm 55:22
I learned this the hard way. I remember my first college basketball game—something I had trained for relentlessly. But instead of trusting my preparation, I let doubt creep in. I feared I wouldn’t perform well, that I’d turn the ball over too much, that my hard work wouldn’t show.
The night before, I couldn’t sleep. I kept replaying every possible scenario—what I would do, what I wouldn’t do, how many shots I’d take, whether we’d win or lose. My mind was consumed with the what-ifs.
Yet, when I finally stepped onto the court, something shifted. It was as if I belonged there. Every pass, every shot—it all came together. Looking back, I wish I had known Bruce Lee’s words back then.
But more importantly, I wish I had understood what I know now: We serve a God who doesn’t operate on autopilot. He is intentional in every moment.
“Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?” — Matthew 6:25
Instead of overanalyzing every step, God calls us to seek Him first and trust that He has already made a way.
When Jesus fasted for 40 days, the enemy tried to shake Him. The devil tempted Him three times—first with food, then with power, and finally with control over the kingdoms of the world.
But Jesus didn’t waver. He responded with truth: “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’” — Matthew 4:10
We may not bow to the devil, but how often do we bow to fear? How often do we let our circumstances, struggles, and doubts have more power than our faith?
But God wants us to choose Him above everything else. No matter how big the problem seems, bring it to Him. You were never meant to carry it alone.
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." — Matthew 11:28
"A person’s steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand their own way?" — Proverbs 20:24
This verse reminds us that God is ultimately in control of our lives. Because of this, we won’t always understand the reasons behind what we face. But trusting God means knowing that His plan is greater than our limited perspective.
We may not always have the answers, but one thing is certain: If you trust God, you can never go wrong.
So, as you go through your day, remember this:
If you can’t control it, don’t let it control you.
Instead of worrying about what you cannot control, create something great.
When you trust God’s approval over man’s, you walk in His strength and power.