My Way or the High Way

Joel Balin
Oct 21
4 min read

I was putting up a ceiling fan one day when I found myself in that familiar place — grumbling, complaining, and wondering why things never go as smoothly as I had pictured it.

Trace came to the door holding a small piece in her hand. “Hey, what about this part?”

“I don’t need that,” I said confidently, still balancing on the ladder. She smiled. “What do the directions say?”

“I don’t need no stinking directions.”

Twenty minutes later, Trace showed up again — same piece, same smile. This time, I got down off the ladder, swallowed my pride, and actually opened the instructions.

Guess what? I did need that piece.

It turns out, the one who wrote the instruction manual actually knew what they were doing.

It’s amazing how many times in life I’ve repeated that same mistake — with a ceiling fan, a computer app, a home project, or even a decision I thought I had figured out. I’d try everything in my own strength, and finally remember: Oh yeah… maybe I should pray about this.

And every time I stop and ask, “God, show me what to do,” He does. Sometimes immediately. Sometimes through a person, a revelation, or “circumstance”. But always faithfully.

After all, for every situation, He’s the one who wrote the manual.

God’s Way Is the High Way

The disciples knew that feeling too. They were professional fishermen. They knew the water, the seasons, the nets. But this time, their experience wasn’t enough; they had fished all night long and caught nothing. Not one fish. Nets empty, tempers flaring, discouragement setting in.

Then a voice called from the shore. “Throw your net on the right side of the boat, and you’ll find some.” (John 21:6)

I can almost hear their response: “Really, Jesus? We’ve been doing this all night. We know how to fish.”

But they did it anyway — and the nets filled so full they could barely pull them in.

Sometimes the only difference between frustration and fulfillment is surrendering my way for the High Way.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.

“As the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts.” —Isaiah 55:8–9

Take the High Way

Pause before you push.

When frustration rises and everything feels urgent, our first instinct is to force a solution. When they thought they had life and ministry all under their belts, Jesus told the disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit.

Slow down, breathe out, and breathe in the Holy Spirit before you move. Wait, receive, then go. All of God’s provision and promises come through this promise:

“Wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you”—Acts 1:4-5,8

Ask before you act.

The Holy Spirit will guide us—if we’ll simply pause and ask for His wisdom.

“The Holy Spirit… will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have said to you.” — John 14:26

God’s answers are often quieter than our anxiety — but always stronger than our reasoning.

Seek before you speak.

Our words can either release peace or stir confusion. They bring life or death. They release the wisdom of heaven to our earthly situations.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God… and it will be given to you.” — James 1:5

A word spoken from the Spirit can do more in a moment than our arguments can in a lifetime.

Surrender before you strive.

It’s easy to wear ourselves out trying to make things happen by sheer effort or intellect. But true power begins when we stop striving and start surrendering.

“Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all.” — Proverbs 3:5-7 (MSG)

Waiting on God is never wasted time—it’s preparation time that takes us past the limitations of “my way.”

“Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord.” — Zechariah 4:6

When we yield control, we make room for His supernatural strength.

Sometimes the ceiling fan doesn’t fit, the net comes up empty, or the plan just won’t come together — not because we’ve failed, but because we haven’t stopped to seek God’s ways.

God’s way is always the highest.

So the next time you’re tempted to say, “I’ll do it my way,” pause and remember: There’s a High Way — and it’s His.

May we always say, “Not my way, but the High Way.”