I Got This - No, You Probably Don’t

What areas of your life are you overconfident in?

Have you ever caught yourself thinking, “I’ve got this.” You don’t ask for help. You don’t confess weakness. You don’t seek counsel. You don’t pray much about it because you’re convinced you can handle it on your own.

Yet, how many times have you felt that way only to watch everything go sideways? What are you involved in right now that could possibly fail? Your marriage? Your finances? A business decision? Your health? A relationship? A temptation you’ve convinced yourself you can manage?

I’ve had plenty of those moments. In my foolish years—and honestly, I still have one every now and then—I believed I could hide the lie, postpone doing the right thing, and somehow everything would work out. I thought no one would ever find out. I was confident in my own thinking while leaving out prayer, wise counsel, and God’s direction. I wasn’t reading good books. I wasn’t asking mature believers for a second opinion. I wasn’t slowing down long enough to think things through. I simply reacted… and boy, did things blow up.

Later in life, especially in business, I learned a completely different approach. I intentionally surrounded myself with people who were smarter than I was. I sought advice from people who had already succeeded. Sometimes I even learned from my competitors. I listened more, talked less, collaborated often, and the results were dramatically different.

One of the greatest lessons I’ve ever learned is this: the fastest way to grow is by reading good books and seeking godly counsel from people who are wiser and more experienced than I am.

You simply don’t have enough life to learn everything through your own experiences. Trial and error is a painfully slow teacher—and many times an expensive one. Trust me, I’ve paid that tuition more than once.

God has already placed wisdom in His Word and in the lives of mature believers. Why ignore those resources and insist on making every mistake yourself? Solomon said, “Spend time with the wise and you will become wise, but the friends of fools will suffer.” (Proverbs 13:20 NCV). Humility learns from others. Pride insists on finding out the hard way.

Today’s verse says, “The words of fools will ruin them; their own words will trap them.” (Proverbs 18:7 NCV).

What does that mean? Solomon is saying that a fool’s greatest problem isn’t just what he says—it’s the confidence behind what he says. He speaks before he thinks. He assumes he’s right. He rejects correction because he believes he already has the answer. Eventually, his own words expose him, and the very confidence he trusted becomes the trap that ruins him. In other words, the fool talks himself into trouble because he never stopped long enough to seek wisdom.

I can’t tell you how many people I’ve spoken with who simply don’t read, don’t seek wise counsel, and don’t invite trusted people to challenge their thinking. Instead, they make knee-jerk decisions, react emotionally, and isolate themselves. They sincerely believe they’re making the right decision because they’ve never slowed down long enough to test it.

Here’s another truth I’ve learned over the years: time brings all things to light. Give it enough time and you’ll eventually discover whether your decision was built on wisdom or emotion, humility or pride, truth or self-confidence.

So why would we choose to lean only on ourselves when God offers something infinitely better? “Trust the Lord with all your heart, and don’t depend on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5 NCV). James reminds us, “If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God for it. He is generous and enjoys giving to everyone.” (James 1:5 NCV). Solomon adds, “Plans fail without good advice, but they succeed with the advice of many others.” (Proverbs 15:22 NCV).

Think about that for a moment. The God who knows everything, controls everything, heals everything, and already knows your future invites you to seek His wisdom. Why wouldn’t we ask Him first?

Even if you’re trained, pray. Even if you’re experienced, seek counsel. Even if you’ve done it a hundred times, collaborate with someone you trust. You’ll reinforce the direction you’re taking, avoid unnecessary mistakes, and usually arrive at a better destination.

I’ve also learned that very few things are true emergencies. One of the greatest disciplines in life is learning the difference between what is urgent and what is important. Most decisions don’t require a split-second response. They deserve prayer, planning, wise counsel, and time for God to direct your heart.

Before making your next big decision, ask yourself: Have I prayed about this? Have I written it down? Have I invited someone wiser than me to challenge my thinking? Have I paused long enough to hear from God?

I’ve found that after I’ve done those things, a quiet confidence replaces anxious confidence. It’s no longer, “I’ve got this.” Instead, it becomes, “God’s got this, and I’m simply following Him.” That’s a much safer place to live.

Find a mentor. Read good books. Surround yourself with people who know more than you. Invite correction. Pray to the God who owns it all, controls it all, and holds your future in His hands.

I promise you, it’s the better way.

Lord, help us to be humble instead of prideful. Protect us from believing we have all the answers. Give us hearts that seek Your wisdom before trusting our own understanding. Surround us with godly counselors, reveal our blind spots, and give us the patience to wait on You before we act. We want our confidence to rest in You, not in ourselves. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen. ❤️