A Pilgrimage of Trust: Walking with God When Letting Go Is Hard

Lately, I’ve been really struggling with letting go… completely.

You may remember a previous post where I shared about no longer being the “fixer.” That lesson is still very much in progress. I’m learning—sometimes the hard way—that I have to stop blocking God or getting in the way of His plan. And folks… that is not easy.

I like to help. I like to solve. I like to make things better. But surrender requires open hands, not clenched fists. And that’s uncomfortable.

The other day, I sat down with my Daily Wordfind (no judging 😉), and the theme was Spiritual Destination. That alone caught my attention. Then this verse followed:

“Blessed are those whose strength is in You,
whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.”
—Psalm 84:5

Pilgrimage…..what is that? So, you know me…..I looked up the definition of pilgrimage, and this is what I found:
A journey to a place associated with someone or something well known or respected.

Hmm.👀

That shifted my perspective. A pilgrimage isn’t about arriving perfectly put together. It’s about the journey itself. It’s movement. It’s progress. It’s intention. And suddenly, it made sense why surrender feels so hard—because I’m still on the road.

My faith walk with Christ is exactly that: a journey. One with twists, hills, valleys, and yes… some long and difficult terrain to navigate. Psalm 84 even acknowledges this. It doesn’t sugarcoat the path. But it reminds us where our strength comes from—and where our hearts should be set.

Then, because God has a sense of perfect timing, I scrolled through social media (as one does), and a picture popped up that said something like:

When the Bible says, “Do not lean on your own understanding,” it means it.
Your heart is deceitful.
Your emotions fluctuate.
Your understanding can’t see the whole picture.

Yep, Convicted.

But it didn’t stop there, it went on to say….God never lies. God never changes. God knows all. Trust Him.

Funny how it all tied together—the Daily Wordfind, Psalm 84, and that unexpected social media reminder. Coincidence? I don’t think so….I always joke and say “nope – it’s the man upstairs”.

I’m realizing that God doesn’t expect perfection in surrender. He asks for willingness. He asks for trust. He asks us to keep walking, even when we don’t have the map, even when we want to take control back.

Because this life of faith? It’s a pilgrimage.

And I’m learning—step by step—to trust Him on the journey. How about you? Is this something you are struggling with too? If so, take a minute, grab a piece of paper and read these questions. I always find it better to write my answers in a journal to reflect later. Let me know! 💕

Where in your life are you still trying to “fix” things instead of fully trusting God?
What does surrender look like for you right now—practically, not perfectly?
How does viewing your faith as a pilgrimage change the pressure you put on yourself?
When have you seen God gently connect different moments or messages to get your attention?
What would it look like to lean less on your own understanding this week and more on God’s truth?
How can you remind yourself that growth happens on the journey, not just at the destination?

And I always have to leave you with a prayer –

Lord,
I confess that I often want to fix, control, and understand everything before trusting You. Teach me how to loosen my grip and place my confidence fully in You. When the path feels uncertain or difficult, remind me that this walk of faith is a pilgrimage—one step at a time with You. Help me stop leaning on my own understanding and start trusting Your unchanging truth. Strengthen my heart as I journey with You, and lead me where You want me to go.
Amen.

In all things, I do find the Joy. Sometimes I have to dig but at the end of the day, This is the day the LORD has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it!