4 Benefits of Letting God Lead You

July 15, 2026 Kristine Brown

“When I saw this opportunity, I thought it would be perfect for you!”

Over coffee, a friend mentioned a local ministry looking for volunteers. She’d been involved with this worthy cause for several years, and a position opened up that seemed to be just right for me.

My excitement grew like you wouldn’t believe.

I knew about the ministry and had every intention of getting involved. Now it seemed like my prayers were being answered. Was God opening a door for me? I decided to pray about it, but I couldn’t think of a single reason God would say “no.”

So, imagine my surprise when I didn’t feel like I got the go-ahead from God.

When things stalled out, my stubbornness kicked in. I thought surely God would be pleased with my willingness. Plus, the timing seemed perfect. I wanted to let God lead me, but I just couldn’t understand why he would close the door on such a worthwhile thing. That made it hard to let go and follow His plan instead of my own.

The Root of Our Struggle to Let Go of Control

In our last devotion, I shared about our struggle to let go of control. We reminded ourselves that God is over all things. By focusing on that truth, we can practice releasing control to God each day. But as we look a little deeper, we discover what lies at the root of our struggle.

To find the answer, let’s look at the story in Exodus of a ruthless Pharaoh pursuing the fleeing Israelites.

When God Hardened Pharaoh’s Heart

God sent Moses to lead His people out of the bondage under Egyptian rule. Each time Pharaoh relented and agreed to release the Israelites, God hardened Pharoah’s heart, and Pharaoh changed his mind about letting the people go.

After finally heeding Moses’ warnings and letting them go, God once again hardened Pharoah’s heart, and the Egyptian army went after them.

“And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the people of Israel while the people of Israel were going out defiantly.” Exodus 14:8 ESV

Scripture tells us God hardened his heart, meaning God allowed Pharaoh to be ruled by his own stubborn nature. He let Pharaoh do what he wanted to do—to be in control.

Why Do We Allow Our Hearts to Be Hardened?

I know all-too-well the desire to forge my own path, even when the path seems righteous and good. Just like wanting to serve in a ministry with my friend, I can get caught up in what I want and forget to allow God to guide me.

The word heart in the verse above originates from the Hebrew word leb, referring to the foundation of our thoughts and emotions. Pharaoh had control of the Israelites, and he did not want to let that go. A hardened heart can have the same effect on us.

I love how this quote from an article on Christianity.com explains it, “When God gives us over to our own charge, our own control, we always become hard of heart toward the will of God. It is the natural result of fallen humans refusing to allow God to control our lives.”

A difficult truth, but one we need to hear in order to keep taking steps forward in our spiritual walk. That’s why it’s crucial that we make time to rest at the feet of Jesus often and seek His will above our own.

Romans 2:5 tells us, “But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.”

We see the word heart again in this New Testament verse. Similar to the one used in Exodus 14:8, the Greek word kardia here refers to “the inner person, self, the seat of thought and emotion: conscience, courage, mind, and understanding.”

Simply put, we can be stubborn. But we know in our hearts, God’s way is the best way, so it’s time to dig deep and pull out any of the hard roots that remain.

How Do We Know If We’re Letting God Lead Us?

When I get used to taking the lead, I can convince myself that something is God’s will, even when I haven’t heard clear direction from Him. I rationalize it, thinking that if it makes sense, then of course it’s what He wants. But just because it’s a good thing, doesn’t mean it’s God’s thing for me right now.

To know for sure, we need to pray and ask Him to lead us.

The Benefits of Letting God Lead You

Good things will come from yielding to God’s guiding hand. It’s challenging at first, but when we submit to His will, we will find freedom in following.

Here are 4 benefits of letting God lead us:

One: When we let God lead us, we transform to become more like Christ.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2

Two: Letting God lead us helps us sstay on the right path and live the abundant life God offers.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

Three: Letting God lead us leads to a worry-free life because we know that even through the most difficult circumstances, God is still in control.

“Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.” Psalm 55:22

Four: Letting God lead us teaches us to hear and respond to his voice.

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27

If you’ve been struggling to hear God’s voice, you may find comfort and encouragement in this post, 4 Powerful Ways the Holy Spirit Will Guide You.

A Prayer for God to Soften Our Hearts

As we continue seeking the Lord’s leading in our lives, let’s remember to ask him to soften our hearts to his will, his ways, and his timing. He is a good and faithful God, and he will respond as we seek him in all that we do.

Dear Heavenly Father,

My heart has become hardened as I’ve continued fighting for control. I’ve prayed and wanted to let go, but then I make decisions based on what I want instead of waiting for your answer. Forgive me, Lord. Soften my heart toward your ways, your will, and your people.

Your Word says that it’s you who works in me to act, in order to fulfill your good purpose. You know best, and you have a plan beyond what I can see in front of me. Help me to trust that. Help me yield to your will. Where you lead me, I will follow. I confess my stubbornness, and I know good things await as I let you have complete control. Thank you for being my guiding hand. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

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5 Things Your Pastor’s Wife Needs from You Right Now

September 1, 2023 Kristine Brown

5 Things Your Pastor’s Wife Needs from You Right Now

She calls your name in prayer every night before attempting to sleep. She lifts your family up to God in the most difficult times of your life. She faithfully attends every church event. (She plans most of them, anyway.) You never see her without a smile on her face.

All the while her husband and family are prime targets of attack.

Beside every pastor is a woman willing to walk with him through the ups and downs that come with the profession. No other job relies so heavily on faith and offers so little worldly reward. Pastors are under scrutiny now more than ever. Because of this, the pastor’s wife carries a heavy load. So what can we do to ease her burden?

As the women of her congregation, we want to help. We may be tempted to send a quick text saying, “Let me know if you need anything.” But there is a better way to make sure we’re blessing our pastor’s wife and supporting her, as well as our pastor.

There are practical things we can do to assist our pastor’s wife today.

What can I do to help my pastor’s wife?

My husband and I served as interim pastors at various churches in times of transition. We also served as church planters.

We’ve seen the role of pastor and wife from both perspectives - as the church shepherds and as part of the congregation. We’ve understood the burden pastors feel for the well-being of their flock. So when we’re not serving in a pastoral role, we want to show our pastors and leaders in the church how much we appreciate the important work they do.

A Pastor’s Wife and Her Role in the Church

During my time as a pastor’s wife, many women blessed me with exactly what I needed to press on when all I wanted to do was give up. So many times I felt drained. Poured out until I had nothing left to give.

I wondered if my work mattered, and in the face of what seemed like constant opposition, I questioned my calling. Yet at just the right time, God sent someone to come alongside me and encourage me.

From those experiences, I learned how vital it is to stand beside our pastor’s wives, and how even the simplest act can be a huge encouragement to her. Here are 5 things your pastor’s wife needs from you right now. Prayerfully consider how you might follow these tips to help ease her burden today.

5 Ways to Bless Your Pastor’s Wife Today

“For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people and his incomparable great power for us who believe.” Ephesians 1:15-19 NIV

Pray for Her

Even though our intentions to pray for our pastor and his wife may be good, I am the first to admit falling short in my commitment to pray for them. Make no mistake, the pastor’s wife is an integral part of our church leadership, so we need to remember her in our daily prayers.

The pastor’s wife may remain silent most of the time, but consider the many people she ministers to each day. And she does it all with love.

We have no idea what the people in our church family may be going through, but she knows. The pastor’s wife intercedes in prayer for every single person in our church, including us. Let’s pray for wisdom and revelation on her behalf, as Paul says in verse 17. God will give her strength as we intercede for her in prayer.

(For helpful prayers, visit the free downloads page and see the resources available there. Enter your email here to gain access.)

2. Communicate Your Gratitude for All She Does

“I have not stopped giving thanks for you…”

Nothing says I appreciate you like a word of gratitude. Whether in person or in a hand-written note, a simple thank you will lift her spirit and offer an encouraging word when she needs it most.

I recall a time of discouragement in our ministry. All pastors face those times now and then. At just the right moment, I received a thank you card from a dear woman in our church. I will never forget her sincere gesture. We shouldn’t underestimate the power of a kind word.

3. Show Her Your Commitment to the Church

Your pastor’s wife may ask for a commitment from you to help or serve in a specific way. Can I share a secret with you? She usually hates to ask because she knows you are busy with your own work, family, and life. She wouldn’t ask without a lot of thought and prayerful consideration.

You can be honest with her (and yourself) about what you are able to do, but also be gentle. Consider her heart and her feelings while considering how you can help.

Pastor’s wives need us to serve. Let’s look for ways to help while remaining realistic with our commitments.

4. Don’t Be Afraid to Take a Stand Against Criticism

Sometimes even those well-intentioned conversations can turn toxic.

We may mean well, but even a simple statement like, “I wish our church had this…” or, “If only our pastors would…” can lead to our sweet pastor’s wife feeling criticized.

When someone criticizes our pastor’s wife, it’s okay to speak out against the criticism. We don’t have to be harsh with our words to be firm in our commitment to support her ministry. We can simply and gracefully put an end to the conversation, then walk away.

5. Make Her a Simple Casserole, or Your Favorite Dish

This one’s my favorite, probably because cooking is not something I enjoy! I am thrilled when someone surprises me with a meal. Want to bless your pastor’s wife in a very tangible way right now? Cook a casserole and surprise her family with a yummy dinner.

You don’t have to be an amazing cook to bless the pastor’s family with a meal. A sweet friend from our church used to pick up a bucket of bar-b-que, a package of buns, and a bag of chips for us once in a while. What a treat that was! I didn’t have to cook, and I could enjoy time with my family. Food is a sure-fire way to show your love and concern for her.

We can rest assured that our pastor’s wife loves us more than we know. We shouldn’t feel overlooked or forgotten if she hasn’t talked to us in a while. We must remember how overwhelming her role can be.

Let’s commit today to lift her up, just as she does for us.

May these tips I’ve shared with you here inspire you to find other ways to support your pastor’s wife and her ministry within the church. Our efforts will make a difference in her life, her family, and our community.