Embracing Commitment: Trusting God in Uncertainty

Devotional

Day 1: Commit Your Way to the Lord—Roll the Weight Onto God

Committing your way to the Lord is not about trying harder or powering through in your own strength; it’s about rolling the weight of your life, your worries, and your burdens onto God, trusting Him to act where you cannot. True commitment begins with surrender, not striving, as you release control and let God carry what you were never meant to bear. When you pray, imagine rolling your shoulders and saying, “God, I commit this to you,” letting go of the things that are too heavy for you. This is not an act of giving up, but of trusting the One who is strong enough to handle it all. [09:20]

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

Reflection: What is one specific burden or area of your life that you are still trying to control? Can you take a moment today to pray and intentionally “roll” that weight onto God, trusting Him to act?

Day 2: Stay Steady in the Struggle—Roll With the Punches

Commitment doesn’t disappear when life gets hard; it digs in and takes a stand, even when answers are slow or circumstances are confusing. Like Habakkuk, you may find yourself crying out, “How long, Lord?” but faithfulness means waiting, standing firm on God’s promises, and refusing to give up even when you don’t see immediate results. God’s answer may be “wait for it,” and in those seasons, your role is to remain committed, trusting that He is still at work behind the scenes, writing your story. [19:26]

Habakkuk 2:1-3 (ESV)
I will take my stand at my watchpost and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint. And the Lord answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.”

Reflection: Where in your life are you tempted to give up or move on because things are slow or difficult? What would it look like for you to “take your stand” and wait on God’s timing this week?

Day 3: Play Your Role—Fan the Flame and Guard the Deposit

Commitment is not passive; it’s about actively playing your part, fanning into flame the gifts God has given you, and guarding the good deposit entrusted to you. Even when you feel like your efforts are small or the “wood is wet,” faithfulness in the ordinary—showing up, serving, praying, and tending to what God has given—matters deeply. God calls you to do your role, trusting Him to do the big things, and to guard the future by being faithful with what you have today. [29:17]

2 Timothy 1:6-7, 14 (ESV)
For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. … By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.

Reflection: What is one small, faithful action you can take today to “fan the flame” or guard what God has entrusted to you, even if it feels ordinary or unnoticed?

Day 4: Abandon Outcomes to God—Roll the Dice in Faith

Committing to God means holding your plans, your future, and your outcomes with open hands, acknowledging that you are not in control of what happens next. Like rolling the dice, you are responsible to act, to play your role, but the results belong to God. True commitment is not about guaranteeing your preferred outcome, but about faithfulness and surrender—trusting God with the results, even when they are uncertain or different from what you hoped. [33:41]

James 4:13-17 (ESV)
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

Reflection: Is there an area where you are clinging to your own definition of success or outcome? How can you practice surrendering the results to God and simply focus on being faithful today?

Day 5: Follow Jesus’ Example—Not My Will, But Yours Be Done

The ultimate picture of commitment is Jesus in the garden, praying, “Not my will, but yours be done,” and entrusting Himself fully to the Father, even when it meant pain and sacrifice. Commitment is trust-filled action, not control; it’s surrendering your will to God’s, knowing that He may not remove the hardship but will strengthen you to walk through it. As you follow Jesus’ example, you can trust that God will meet you in your commitment, giving you the grace and strength you need for whatever lies ahead. [36:35]

Luke 22:41-43 (ESV)
And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.

Reflection: What is one area where you need to pray, “Not my will, but yours be done”? How can you take a step of trust-filled action, following Jesus’ example, even if the outcome is uncertain?

Sermon Summary

In a world where keeping options open is the norm and commitment feels like a loss of control, it’s easy to fall into the trap of half-hearted living—never fully investing in relationships, purposes, or even in God. The desire to stay in control often leads to shallow connections and a lack of real purpose, as we bail when things get tough or uncertain. Yet, the paradox is that by refusing to commit, we actually limit our futures and miss out on the fullness of what God wants to do in and through us.

Scripture flips our cultural narrative: “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act” (Psalm 37:5). Commitment isn’t about gritting our teeth and trying harder; it’s about rolling the weight of our lives onto God, trusting Him with what we can’t control. The Hebrew word for “commit” literally means “to roll,” inviting us to let go of burdens we were never meant to carry and to trust God with the outcomes. This is not a call to passivity, but to a trust-filled action—releasing control, naming our anxieties, and entrusting them to God.

But commitment doesn’t end with a single act of surrender. It means staying steady in the struggle, like Habakkuk, who took his stand even when God’s answers seemed slow in coming. Commitment is about waiting, standing firm, and not giving up when life is unclear or painful. It’s about rolling with the punches, trusting that God is still at work even when we can’t see it.

At the same time, commitment is active. Paul’s words to Timothy remind us to “fan into flame the gift of God”—to play our role, take small steps of obedience, and guard what God has entrusted to us. We’re called to be stewards, faithfully tending to the spark God has given, even when it feels ordinary or the wood is wet. Ultimately, commitment means rolling the dice—acting in faith, abandoning outcomes to God, and holding our plans with open hands. Jesus models this perfectly in Gethsemane, surrendering His will to the Father and trusting God with the outcome, even when it led through suffering.

Key Takeaways

1. True commitment is surrender, not control. The cultural urge to keep options open is really a desire to stay in control, but this only leads to shallow living and missed opportunities. When we “roll” our burdens onto God, we acknowledge our limits and trust Him to act in ways we cannot. This surrender is the doorway to experiencing God’s power and presence in our lives. [04:56]
2. Commitment begins with trust, not effort. The heart of the gospel is not “try harder,” but “trust deeper.” Jesus has already rolled away the stone we could never move; our role is to admit our inability and entrust our lives, sins, and anxieties to Him. Faith is not about managing outcomes, but about releasing them to the One who is able. [13:36]
3. Steadfastness in struggle is a mark of commitment. Like Habakkuk, we are called to take our stand even when God seems silent or slow. Waiting is not wasted time; it is the soil where faith grows deep roots. Commitment means holding fast to God’s promises, refusing to be moved by the winds of culture or the pressures of life, and trusting that God is still writing the story. [17:10]
4. Playing your role means faithful, small steps. Commitment is not passive; it’s about fanning into flame the gifts and callings God has given, even when it feels unimpressive or ordinary. Guarding what’s been entrusted to us—relationships, callings, resources—requires daily, intentional action. God does the big things; we are called to be faithful in the small. [25:40]
5. Commitment means abandoning outcomes to God. We are responsible for our obedience, not the results. Holding our plans, futures, and even our pace with open hands, we trust God to define success and bring about His purposes. Like Jesus in Gethsemane, we pray, “Not my will, but yours be done,” knowing that God’s strength meets us in our surrender. [34:08]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:29] - The Challenge of Making Plans
[01:20] - Our Culture of Non-Commitment
[02:22] - The Illusion of Control
[03:49] - How Avoiding Commitment Limits Us
[04:28] - Commitment as the Doorway to God’s Action
[05:34] - What Commitment Really Means
[06:23] - Letting Things Roll Off Your Back
[08:55] - Releasing Control to God
[11:49] - The Insanity of Trying to Control Everything
[13:08] - The Gospel: Jesus Rolled Away the Stone
[15:18] - Rolling with the Punches: Steadfastness in Struggle
[17:10] - Taking a Stand When Life Shakes
[20:55] - Waiting on God’s Promises
[22:17] - Get Rolling: Playing Your Role
[25:40] - Guarding What’s Been Entrusted
[31:15] - Rolling the Dice: Abandoning Outcomes
[34:08] - Commitment as Trust-Filled Action
[35:18] - Jesus’ Ultimate Commitment
[37:12] - Communion and Prayer of Surrender

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

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

Habakkuk 2:1-3 (ESV) — > I will take my stand at my watchpost and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint. And the Lord answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.”

2 Timothy 1:6-7, 14 (ESV) — > For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. ... By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.

Observation Questions

In Psalm 37:5, what two actions are we told to take, and what does God promise to do in response?
According to Habakkuk 2:1-3, what is Habakkuk’s response when God seems slow to answer, and what does God tell him to do while he waits? [17:10]
In 2 Timothy 1:6-7, what does Paul tell Timothy to do with the gift God has given him, and what kind of spirit has God given us instead of fear? [22:17]
The sermon mentions that the Hebrew word for “commit” means “to roll.” What does this word picture help us understand about what it means to commit our way to God? [05:53]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think our culture values keeping options open and avoiding commitment? How does this mindset affect our relationships with God and others? [01:20]
The sermon says that true commitment is surrender, not control. What does it look like to “roll” our burdens onto God instead of trying to manage everything ourselves? [08:55]
Habakkuk chose to take his stand and wait for God’s answer, even when things were unclear or painful. What does this teach us about the role of waiting and steadfastness in our faith? [17:10]
Paul tells Timothy to “fan into flame” the gift of God and to guard what’s been entrusted to him. What might it look like for us to actively tend to the gifts, relationships, or callings God has given us, even when it feels ordinary or unimpressive? [25:40]

Application Questions

The sermon describes how trying to stay in control leads to shallow living and missed opportunities. Is there an area of your life where you are holding back from full commitment because you want to keep your options open? What would it look like to “roll” that area onto God this week? [03:49]
When you feel weighed down by anxiety, responsibility, or the need to manage outcomes, what practical step could you take to release that burden to God? (For example, a specific prayer, a physical gesture, or talking to someone you trust.) [09:20]
Habakkuk took his stand and waited for God, even when he didn’t see immediate results. Is there a situation in your life where you are tempted to give up because God seems slow to act? What would it look like to remain steadfast and trust that God is still at work? [20:55]
Paul’s advice to Timothy was to “fan into flame” the gift of God. What is one small, faithful step you could take this week to nurture a gift, relationship, or responsibility God has given you—even if it feels ordinary or unnoticed? [25:40]
The sermon says commitment means abandoning outcomes to God and holding our plans with open hands. Is there a plan, dream, or expectation you need to surrender to God’s will? How can you practice saying, “Not my will, but yours be done,” in that area? [34:08]
Jesus modeled ultimate commitment in Gethsemane by surrendering his will to the Father, even when it meant suffering. When have you faced a moment where obedience to God was costly or uncomfortable? How did you respond, and what did you learn? [35:18]
The idea of “guarding what’s been entrusted” means actively protecting the future God has given you. What is one thing in your life—maybe a relationship, a calling, or a resource—that you sense God wants you to guard more intentionally? What’s a first step you can take? [29:17]

Sermon Clips

We think that we're keeping our options open, but actually, when we don't commit to things, we are limiting our options. We're limiting our options. The amount of futures that become available to you actually decrease the less you commit to any one of them. [00:03:41] (20 seconds) #CommitmentUnlocksPossibilities

The heart of religion is commit. Try harder, do more, be better. But the heart of the gospel is Jesus has committed to you and rolled away the weight of a stone that you and I could not do. We couldn't move it on our own. The distance between us and God is too much. And so when we commit our way to the Lord, it's part of. It's saying, God, I trust you to do what I can't do. [00:13:16] (28 seconds) #CommitmentIsTrust

Faith is going. I admit I can't do it anymore. I never really could, Jesus. So I commit my sin. I commit myself, all of it. I give it to you. I don't want the weight anymore. Let Jesus roll it off, roll it away, just like he did the stone when he rose from the grave. [00:14:16] (20 seconds) #StandFirmCommit

God waiting doesn't mean that nothing's happening. I know it's hard. I know, I know we don't like the uncertainty. I don't want to wait. But it means that God is still writing the story. And sometimes even when there's resistance, that means that you're actually gaining ground. That's what resistance is. There's traction there. Maybe God is doing something. The pieces are in motion. And if we'll wait, if we'll stand. [00:21:48] (27 seconds) #SmallStepsBigFaith

Commitment means abandoning outcomes to God. I don't know what's going to come up. Snake eyes. Two sixes, a two and a three. We abandon the outcomes of God. Success is not our definition of it. We plan to commit to the wrong things. I'm committed to my success. I'm committed to this outcome. I'm committed to the way I think it should happen. And if it doesn't happen my way, then I'm gonna be out. But commitment or success is actually faithfulness to assignment. It's being willing to say I'm not responsible for the outcome, that I'm committing to God. I just want to play my role. I'm committed to that. [00:31:26] (42 seconds)

Commitment means holding your calendar Your future, your timing, not even just your plans, but your pace, all of these things with open hands. It's playing your role and acknowledging God's. It's saying, here's what I will do, but I know that I can't control what happens next. It's saying all I can control is me, but all I can do is roll the dice. Commitment, though, means rolling it. I'm gonna do it. I'm gonna take a stand. I'm gonna roll the weight of it off of my shoulders and keep on rolling. [00:33:48] (37 seconds)

Commitment is trust filled action. Trust filled action. Regardless of the outcome, commitment's not control, it's surrender. And when you commit your way to him, when you trust him, and when you play your role, you will see him act. [00:35:41] (17 seconds)

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