Jesus Isn’t Your GPS—He’s the Freaking Road: A Rebel’s Guide to Living Full-Throttle

Being a guy—especially one raised on the teachings of Christ—we’re stuck wrestling this tug-of-war: wanting to crush it in life because we love Jesus, not in spite of Him. Problem is, so many of us grew up hearing that chasing excellence is “worldly.” Want success? That’s selfish. Want money? Greedy. It’s like we’re wired to feel guilty for wanting to win.

I wrestled with that tension for years. God dragged me through the fire over it, and out of that conflict, He revealed something powerful. And it came from the most unexpected place: Thomas the Doubter. 

Remember Thomas, one of Jesus’ twelve disciples? This dude was practical to a fault. If his love language had a name, it would be “Microsoft Excel.”

He’s the guy who said, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe” (John 20:25). Show me the receipts, Jesus.

One night–the same night Jesus would be betrayed by Judas—Jesus told His disciples, “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way where I am going” (John 14:2-4). 

And Thomas, ever the spreadsheet guy, replies, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way? (John 14:5). He basically goes, “Wait, wait — show me the map. Where do we turn? What road are we taking?” He wanted step-by-step directions.

Jesus looks at him and says something that wrecks me every time: “I am the way.”

That wasn’t just a theological statement — it was a gentle correction. “Thomas, you’re looking at the way. I am the way.”

And here’s the revelation that changed everything for me: Jesus doesn’t just show you the way — He is the way. When He’s not just a priority on your list, but the actual center of your life, everything else begins to align.

When I finally surrendered fully — not just my career, but my identity, my dreams, everything — God said, “Now I can show you what I built you for.” That’s when He gave me the vision for Craftsman. Not as a replacement for Him. As a byproduct of abiding in Him.

We get it backwards. We treat God like a vending machine: say the right prayer, get the right answer. But that’s not the relationship He’s offering. Jesus said in Matthew 6:33, “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

He’s the sun of the solar system. The keystone of the arch. The nucleus of the atom. Remove Him, and everything collapses. But when He’s at the center — everything finds its place. Who to marry. What to build. When to rest. Even what to eat.

And here’s the wild part: You stop chasing things to fill your heart — because it’s already full. You build that business, marry that girl, train your body — from a full heart, not for one. That’s freedom. That’s life.

Picture this: you're carrying a full glass of water through a crowded room. You bump into someone — it spills over. That’s what life with Jesus at the center looks like. It overflows. It’s contagious. And it’s real.

When you let Jesus be the center of your world, He opens your eyes, and suddenly you are free to run with all your heart and do the best you can with everything he has given you. This includes your natural talents. Your spiritual gift. Your finances. Everything. 

God says, take it, cultivate it, grow it. That is freedom. And He loves you.