The Lie of Self-Sufficiency: Trusting God, Not Yourself

As men, we've all been there. The walls are closing in at work, our families are pulling us in a million directions, and instead of leaning into God's Word, we say, "I've got this." But the truth is, that's a lie—one of the most dangerous lies the devil feeds men, and it's wrecking lives every single day.

In this episode of the Gospel & Gradebooks podcast, hosts Jamie and Timm confront the myth of self-sufficiency head-on. They share raw, personal stories of how trying to "handle it" alone has led to brokenness in their own lives, and they unpack biblical examples of men who failed miserably when they tried to go it solo.

As Jamie vulnerably shares, there was a time when he and his wife Paige were facing fertility struggles early in their marriage. Instead of leaning fully into God and trusting His plan, Jamie tried to "figure it out" on his own.

"I honestly did not pray nearly like I should have. And it was usually only when we got to a point of desperation, right? And God, give me this because I think I deserve it. But I tried to be, you know, very self-sufficient. I can handle this. I can come up with the ideas. I can come up with the finances. I can come up with this and that. I can figure this thing out."

It wasn't until Jamie and Paige were both completely broken by the process that Jamie finally allowed God to work. And it was then that they were blessed with the miracle of their daughter, Nae, through foster care—a path Jamie had initially fought against.

Timm chimes in with another powerful example from his own life, this time in the classroom. He shares how trying to "handle it" on his own as a teacher, without leaning on God, led to constant problems with discipline, disrespect, and a general sense of being "battered and bruised."

"When you don't slow down and put...love and either stop, pull yourself to the side, get regain your composure and pray...when you do not put Christ in that situation, it just it's like again, it's like you're getting knocked around and battered and bruised and and those burdens, the weight of that just weighs down weighs you down and it sucks the just the frustration and life out of you till it can just come to a boiling point."

The truth is, self-sufficiency may look strong on the outside, but on the inside, it's a slow, agonizing death. As Timm puts it, "It kills you." When we try to fight against God's plan and do it all on our own, we're essentially saying, "I can take You on, God. I've got this." But the reality is, none of us can win against the Almighty.

Throughout Scripture, we see numerous examples of men who tried to go it alone and ended up failing miserably. Let's take a look at a few of them:

• Saul - Israel's first king, chosen by God, but later removed from his kingship due to his repeated failures. Saul demonstrated a lack of trust in God's timing, taking matters into his own hands instead of waiting on the Lord's instructions.
• Samson - The mighty Samson was overconfident in his own strength and isolated himself, leading to his downfall.
• Peter - Despite boldly declaring he would never deny Jesus, Peter ended up doing just that—three times—when he separated himself from his companions.
• Peter (again) - When Jesus told the disciples that He must be put to death, Peter argued with Him, saying, "Absolutely not, Lord. That's not going to happen to you." Jesus responded by calling out Peter's self-reliance, saying, "Get behind me, Satan. You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns."

These biblical examples make it clear that trying to "handle it" on our own, apart from God, is a recipe for disaster. As 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 reminds us, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." When we embrace our weakness and dependence on God, that's when His strength can truly shine through.

So, how can we practically apply this truth to our lives as men? Jamie and Timm offer several suggestions:

Set aside a specific time each day—whether it's first thing in the morning, during a planning period, or on your lunch break—to intentionally connect with God through prayer. Make it a consistent habit, and don't just go through the motions. Dial in to the message or scripture that will speak most to your heart.

Don't try to go it alone. Surround yourself with other men who can hold you accountable, encourage you, and pray for you. As the Gospel & Gradebooks mission emphasizes, we need to be bold in seeking out those who are struggling with the lie of self-sufficiency and helping them find freedom in Christ.

Consistent time in the Bible is essential for growing in your faith and dependence on God. Whether it's through a daily devotional, a podcast like Gospel & Gradebooks, or your own personal study, make sure you're regularly feeding your soul with the truth of Scripture.

Don't let complacency set in. Continually push yourself to go deeper in your relationship with God, whether that means adding an extra study, digging deeper into a passage, or finding new ways to apply His Word to your life.

Ultimately, the key is to stop trying to "handle it" on your own and start boldly trusting in God's strength instead of your own. As Timm powerfully states, "Stop being a pansy about letting God in and be in control. Stop thinking that you've got to handle it."

This doesn't mean you have to stand on a desk and preach the Gospel to your students (though that level of boldness is certainly admirable). It could be as simple as wearing a cross necklace or a Gospel & Gradebooks t-shirt to show your faith. The point is to stop hiding your dependence on God and start letting others see the power of His work in your life.

So, men, take some time this week to reflect on the areas where you've been trying to "handle it" alone. Write them down, and then surrender them to God. Let Him be your spotter, your strength, and your guide. And be bold in sharing your faith and your need for Him with others. Because the truth is, apart from Christ, we can do nothing.

Join us next week as we dive into another lie that Satan tells men: the lie of comparison. Our special guest, Marty Richberg, will share his powerful story of finding freedom from the trap of comparison. You won't want to miss it!