Trusting God With Family Decisions Even When His Path Looks Different
Can I tell you something? I used to think I had a pretty good handle on what was best for my family. Maybe you’ve felt that too. Like there’s a plan you can hold tight to because you wrote every detail yourself. But what happens when God hands you a completely different blueprint? That question kept coming up as I listened back to our podcast episode with Bethany, a dear friend and one of the “truest” adventurers I know, and it reminded me of how trusting God through waiting can carry us through difficult seasons. And her story? It’s a reminder I needed—maybe you do too. When it comes to trusting God with family decisions, sometimes the road He chooses feels upside down. Yet over and over, I’ve seen the hope and freedom that comes on the other side of surrender.
Why Trusting God With Family Decisions Is Hard (But Worth It)
Here’s the thing: I’ve never been someone who loves surprises—at least not the big, life-changing kind. If you’re anything like me, you want to be a good steward and provide the best for your kids. You research schools, weigh every option, and try not to second-guess yourself. Making family decisions is a huge responsibility, and it can feel overwhelming. It’s easy to hang on to your own plans. But God’s Word tells us, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6 CSB). That verse has carried me through so many moments of wondering how to step forward.
In our recent podcast episode, Bethany opened up about being completely against homeschooling—she was trying to balance a business she loved, dreams for growth, and the need for her son to fit into a school model, and the Christian homeschool mom community can offer support. Then life happened. COVID changed everything, and you can find guidance in Finding God in hard times. All that planning suddenly felt wobbly when faced with real family needs, and the Christian Support in Crisis Shows Us Christ’s Love When Life Falls. Maybe you know what it’s like to look at your child and realize the path you want doesn’t fit who they are, and Biblical Boundaries With Parents can help. Or you see the cracks in the system and hear God whisper, “It’s time to let go of your plan.” biblical boundaries with parents can help.
What It Means to Surrender Your Family’s Path
Surrender isn’t passive. It’s not giving up. It’s saying, “God, I will let you lead.” Trusting God with family decisions means you release your grip, listen, and become willing to change course. For Bethany, that meant homeschooling for “just one year.” For me, there have been small yeses and big no’s. Either way, surrender is noticing God’s gentle prod—sometimes through discomfort, sometimes through unexpected joy—and saying yes to Him, not just the plan we sketched out all those years ago.
I remember the first time I realized I was holding my ideas tighter than I was holding God’s hand. I was tired, frustrated, and questioning if I’d missed Him altogether. But the more I leaned into prayer, the more I noticed that God’s path, while different, always led to greater connection and peace in our family. Like Bethany, what started as a temporary adjustment turned into a new way of living—one filled with unexpected blessings, deeper relationships, and growth none of us could have planned on our own.
How Trusting God With Family Decisions Changes Your Home
Can I be honest? Surrendering your own plans is uncomfortable. It requires admitting what you don’t know and asking for help. But here’s where my faith comes alive: every time I let go, God does something in our lives that only He can do. In the episode, Bethany shared about the shift from forcing her son into a mold to realizing the gift of influence she had when she slowed down and listened. The amount of time we get back with our kids isn’t just about academics—it’s about shaping their hearts and building trust that lasts far beyond childhood.
Maybe you’re wondering what this looks like in real life. For me, it started with being available—emotionally and physically. Less about what activities we checked off, more about the conversations over dinner or car rides. God showed me that when I stop pressing so hard for my version of “success,” my kids feel safer to open up. Our family gets stronger. The fruit? More laughter, more apologies, more stories shared. The stress doesn’t disappear, but there is new grace for the hard days. That’s what trusting God with family decisions does: it softens you toward each other.
The Freedom That Comes With Surrender
Let me tell you, there is freedom in releasing your own expectations. It doesn’t mean every day goes smoothly. Some days your stubborn kid (or spouse, or self) will resist change. That’s normal. But as Bethany said, when you lay down what you thought you wanted, God often gives you something even better. That business dream? For Bethany, it turned into teaching music in a way that blessed both her and her community. For me, it’s been seeing my children become who God made them to be, not just who I imagined.
God sees your effort. He knows every late-night conversation with your spouse, every silent prayer while folding laundry, and every time you ask, “Are we doing the right thing?” He is not looking for perfection. He wants your trust. He wants a willing heart. And He promises to make your path straight—even if it looks a little twisty for now.
Practical Steps for Trusting God With Family Decisions
Let’s talk practical. I like action steps, not just pretty thoughts. How do you actually trust God with family decisions?
- Pray specifically about your family decisions and be honest about your fears
- Invite your spouse and (when appropriate) your children into the conversation
- Pause before saying yes out of obligation; ask God to show you His best, not just what’s expected
- Look for unexpected open doors and stop signs—sometimes they don’t make sense right away
- Build a community that reflects your values and walk through decisions together
- Be okay with change; God’s path is rarely a straight line
- Celebrate small victories and take time to notice the blessings in the new “normal”
There will be seasons when you doubt yourself. That’s when you remind yourself of Proverbs 3:5-6. When God shifts your plans, it’s not to punish you. It’s to set your family on a course driven by purpose, not just busyness or “shoulds.” That’s a truth I cling to every time I have to make another big (or small) call for my family.
How Surrender Grows Your Faith—and Your Family
Something that stood out from our podcast conversation is how surrender isn’t just a one-time decision. It’s daily. Sometimes hourly. God uses these moments to refine us—not just to benefit our children but to make us more like Jesus. I’ve seen my own pride and impatience rear up when plans change, but I’ve also seen God meet me with gentle correction, teaching me to find joy in what I never expected.
Bethany talked about how homeschooling refined her in the areas of control, selfishness, and trust. Maybe homeschooling isn’t your story. Maybe it’s a medical decision, a move, the decision to foster or adopt, or something else entirely. The principle is the same. Trusting God with family decisions leads to a home that is more connected, peaceful, and full of grace.
Finding Joy and Peace in God’s Surprising Path
I know it can feel scary to step onto an unfamiliar path. But I promise, choosing to surrender your plans to God is not losing—it’s gaining so much more than you could write in any pros and cons list. You are not alone. There is a whole community of parents who have made the hard choice to trust God with family decisions and found deeper faith, closer relationships, and unexpected joy along the way.
If you’re in a season of uncertainty, wondering what the next right step is, can I encourage you? Don’t rush. Don’t compare. Ask the Lord who knows you and your family better than anyone. Open your hands. And listen for His still, small voice saying, “This is the way—walk in it.” (Isaiah 30:21 CSB) Then pay attention to the quiet blessings that begin to grow when you say yes to Him.
Your family is worth it. The peace that follows might look different than you imagined, but it is a peace the world cannot give. That’s the promise God makes when we trust Him with our family decisions. And He keeps His promises.
Ready for More Encouragement?
If this speaks to your heart, I hope you’ll listen to the full podcast episode with Bethany. Her story is honest, hope-filled, and packed with practical ideas. And if you want more about making faith-filled decisions, check out my other posts on building Godly community and saying yes to unexpected calls.
Let’s keep walking together, friend. Every surrendered step can become a story of God’s faithfulness in your home. You are not alone on this path.
