Is not reading a map or ignoring the assembling instructions part of a man’s DNA? Let me kick off this devotional with one of my favorites “we probably lost” stories. Famed baseball player Yogi Berra is credited with many hilarious remarks. Once, Yogi was driving to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, with some other players. After passing the same landmark three times, a fellow player named Joe Garagiola said, “Yogi, you’re lost,” and he replied:
Yeah, I know it. But we’re making good time, ain’t we?
How many times do we guys pretend we know where we’re going when we have no idea which way to turn? Or why do we set the directions aside and attempt to put together the bookcase from IKEA or the shelving unit purchased from Lowe’s, thinking, “I’ve got this”?
Men participate in all sorts of “rites of passage,” such as learning to drive, shaving, and earning their first paycheck. But getting a blueprint to manhood never gets handed out. I remember the anxiety of being a husband when Kay and I first married or when we brought our first newborn son home from the hospital—I had no clue what it meant to be a dad.
Maybe your dad wasn’t around. Perhaps you had a father who provided but didn’t lead spiritually. So, you do what many men are forced to do: you improvise. You watch others. You pretend. You don’t let on that you’re not strong, that you don’t know all the answers. You just hope things will work themselves out.
Unfortunately, there comes a time when you feel exhausted, uncertain, and needing help. But guys don’t ask for help. That’s where many of us are—longing for a map, aching for direction, and wondering why no one handed us one.
The good news? God did give us a map. His Word is the Owner’s Manual we’ve been looking for. It’s our survival guide. He also places people in our lives—mentors, pastors, brothers in Christ—who can help us read the map and walk it out. You’re not the only one who’s felt lost. But you don’t have to stay there.
Scripture
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”
— Hosea 4:6 (ESV)
This verse sounds harsh. God is speaking through the prophet Hosea, one of the minor prophets in the Old Testament. Israel had become indifferent to God’s truth. They had access to His law. His Wisdom. His ways, but ambivalence had set in. The priests, the spiritual leaders of the time, had stopped teaching the truth, and the people stopped seeking it. Sounds pretty current to me. As a result, destruction followed—not because they didn’t know better, but because they didn’t want to know better.
This verse reminds us that the real danger isn’t in not having the answers but in ignoring them. God was speaking very clearly. But no one was listening. The destruction Hosea speaks of then is happening now—marriages are failing, kids are growing distant from the family, spiritual leadership is vacant in the homes, and faith has become a performance instead of a pursuit.
Application
Figuring things out on your own is not always the best approach; it can be exhausting. Navigating life without clear directions doesn’t guarantee you won’t take the wrong turns. When that happens, anger sets in, you get frustrated, and then you start taking the irritation out on those around you. Your joy is lost, your relationships suffer, and even your sense of worth as a man takes a hit.
Part of the problem is that many of us were taught we didn’t need a map. So, silence set in. Asking questions is seen as a sign of weakness. Showing emotions is a liability. We learn to keep secrets. We’ve become good at it. We pretend we’re fine. But secrets don’t make strong men. They make lonely ones.
That’s why it matters that God’s map isn’t just a map—it’s not a rigid manual of dos and don’ts. God’s Word is rooted in wisdom, grace, and daily dependence on Him. It helps shape you into the person He has designed you to be. So, if you’re lost, don’t assume help is impossible. God honors the man who humbles himself and asks.
Perhaps you had a good father and a solid spiritual foundation, but you’ve drifted. That’s okay. God is not in the guilt and shame business—He’s in the prodigal son business. Ready to welcome you back with open arms.
Finally, remember—we’re not built to be solo travelers. It’s best to travel with a brother. You need other men on the trail with you—men who will call out dangers, help carry your load, and keep you moving when you feel like turning back. Maps are helpful. But men who walk with you? That’s lifesaving.
Today’s Challenge: don’t navigate life alone
Where do you feel unskilled? Is it in your role as a husband? A father? A provider? A leader at work or church? Write down one or two areas where you feel unprepared or unsure. Be honest—this is for you, not for show.
Then take the next step:
- Ask God to reveal His wisdom for those areas in His Word.
- Reach out to a trusted brother—someone you respect spiritually—and ask, “Can we talk sometime?”
This isn’t a weakness. It’s courage. Courage to stop pretending. Courage to get honest. Courage to start following the map.
Then pray this:
“Father, I’ve been in the driver’s seat long enough. I’ve faked having it all together, but now it’s time to rely on Your guidance. Teach me how to depend on your instructions and not go it alone. I’m tired of wandering—I want to walk in Your ways. Amen.”
Final Thought
What if your story of not being equipped is the very reason God wants to use you to equip others? Maybe the absence of a map in your life isn’t the end of the story but the beginning. What if God’s calling you to help another man navigate life?
This week’s step: Pick one area where you feel most lost—just one. Search the Bible for guidance on that area (start in Proverbs or James). Read a passage each day this week. Then ask one godly man if he’ll meet with you to talk and pray. The map becomes clearer when you walk it with someone.
Snag this print-friendly version for your next men’s breakfast or Bible study.
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