Intro: Good Morning Discovery Church. I want to give a big shout out to all our graduates here in the room this morning! (applause). Whatever diploma you are holding right now we are proud of you.

Now, I remember when I graduated college. I had big dreams, big faith… and no clue what I was doing. I was pumped up and broke.  I had a Bible in one hand and ramen noodles in the other.

And people kept saying things like, “Just follow your heart.” I was like, my heart just wants a nap and a snack!  

But seriously—everyone graduates into uncertainty. You get asked:

•  “What’s next?”
•  “What are you doing with your life?”
•  “Do you have a 10-year plan?”

And you’re like… “I’m just trying to find the Wi-Fi password, okay?”

That pressure? It’s real. But what if I told you that you don’t have to have it all figured out?  That the smartest move you can make isn’t planning perfectly… but trusting fully?

Because Family Matters, and today, we’re going to unpack something not just for grads—but for every person in every season of transition.

Let’s go to the Word.

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him,And He shall direct your paths.

Let me break this down for you the only way I know how…

POINT 1: Don’t Lean on What You Know—Lean on Who You Know

We’ve got degrees, diplomas, Google, AI… But knowledge doesn’t equal wisdom. Solomon doesn’t say trust in your logic. He says trust in the Lord.

James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

Here’s the problem: too many of us trust our own understanding— We trust our feelings. Our gut. Our past. Our horoscope.

But feelings lie.  Your understanding is limited. God’s perspective is unlimited.

I’ve had seasons where I leaned on me—and you know what happened? I fell flat on my face. But every time I leaned on God, He carried me through storms I never thought I’d survive.

See, you don’t need to have all the answers.  You just need to know the One who does.

Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 3:19 “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”

The world will give you TED Talks and TikToks…But only God gives truth that leads to life.

POINT 2: Submit the Small Stuff—Because It’s All Big to God

Solomon says, “In all your ways acknowledge or submit to Him…”

Let’s be honest. We’re good at submitting the big things in life:

Marriage. Jobs. Kids. (…sometimes). 😬

But what about the small things?

• Who you date.
• How you talk.
• What you scroll.
• How you spend your Friday night.

Take a look at Luke 16:10 “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.”

Why does that matter?

Because what you do consistently creates who you become permanently.

I remember early in ministry, I wanted to preach to thousands. God said, “Can you be faithful to pray for one?”

When we honor Him in the quiet, He promotes us in the open.

Psalm 37:5 “Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.”

The direction of your life is not determined by big decisions. It’s shaped by small, daily ones.

What feels small now… is the foundation for your future.

POINT 3: Directed Steps Begin with a Surrendered Heart

“…and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:6, NKJV)

• It doesn’t say He’ll make your life easy.
•  It doesn’t say the road will be fast.
•  It says He will direct your paths.

That word “direct” in the Hebrew means to make right, level, and purposeful.

So no—life won’t always feel straight.  But when God is directing it, you’re not wandering… You’re walking in divine purpose.

Let me speak to someone today—you’re standing at a fork in the road. Two jobs. Two cities. Two relationships. Or maybe just a real spiritual battle between Chick-fil-A and Chipotle. (One is anointed. One is… spicy.)

But here's the truth—God doesn’t just point the way.

• He prepares the way.
•  He walks the way with you.
•  And He directs every step when your heart is fully surrendered.

Psalm 37:23 “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way.”

Here’s what I’ve learned—  If Jesus is just your Savior, you’ll be saved.  But if He’s also your Lord, you’ll be led.

You’ll live on mission.  You’ll walk in calling.  You’ll move in confidence—not because you know the path,  But because you trust the One directing it.

Isaiah 30:21 “Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left.”

So don’t just ask for guidance—surrender to the Guide.

So what do we do with all this on Monday?

• Pray - Before every decision seek the who know the future. Proverbs 16:3  “Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established.”
• Obey - Don’t wait for things to feel easy or comfortable. Trust is proven in action. James 1:22  “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only…”
• Surrender Daily - Don’t ask God to fix your plans. Wake up in the morning and say “God I am yours.” Why? Because direction comes after surrender not before!!

Some of you are here and you’ve been running your own life.  You’re the one driving. But it’s not working. You’re exhausted. Lost. Maybe even pretending you're okay on the outside… but you’re not.

Listen: Jesus didn’t die just to forgive your sins. He rose to lead your life.

And Proverbs 3:5–6 isn’t just a motivational verse—it’s an invitation to relationship.

Romans 10:9 says, “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

If you’re ready to stop leaning on yourself and start trusting God with your whole heart, pray this with me:

“Jesus, I trust You. I give You my heart, my sin, my plans, my future. Be my Savior. Be my Lord. I surrender everything to You. In Your name, Amen.”

If you prayed that, tell someone today. Mark it. This is your new beginning.

Closing: Graduates, church family—your next step doesn’t need to be perfect.  It just needs to be faithful. You may not know what’s next, but you know Who goes with you. And that’s enough.

So don’t just post the verse—live it.  Don’t just quote it—trust it.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart… and He shall direct your paths.”

Let’s be a people who don’t just believe in God.  Let’s be a church that follows Him. Amen?

Prayer: Dear Jesus, we come before you today choosing to trust you with our hearts, choices, plans and futures. We want Your will done, not ours. Direct our steps. Help us to pray, obey and surrender to you. When we are not sure about things remind us that you are faithful and wise. When we are afraid remind us that you are near. We love you and ask this in Jesus’ holy name. Amen.