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"Take the Wheel" by Bonnie Jean Bailey: Why Surrender Feels So Hard


What are you still holding on to instead of giving it to God? 

Three in the morning has a way of exposing what we’ve been avoiding all day. Bonnie Jean Bailey knows that hour well. In her song “Take the Wheel,” she sings about the tossing and turning, being “sick and tired of all this worrying,” and bags so heavy they threaten to burst. Can you picture that? Most of us carry something similar. Possibly we don’t call it a levy as Bonnie does, but the burden isn’t less. 

Bonnie Jean Bailey - Take The WheelBonnie points out a pattern that we need to be aware of… “Every time I try to hand it over, I take it back cuz I need control of everything.” Does this sound familiar? We pray about something that is worrying us, feel a moment of relief, and then quietly pick up the burden again an hour or so later. 

Bonnie isn’t preaching from a distance here. She’s describing her own tug-of-war between fear and faith. And to be honest, that could also be my tug-of-war that she is describing. Is it also your tug-of-war as well? 

The turning point comes in the chorus, where Bonnie sings, “I’ve seen you in all your glory… you’ve spoken directly to me in a way only I could hear.” That’s quite a shift from trying to white-knuckle control to actually recognizing God’s voice. 

This is what Proverbs 3:5–6 says about this struggle: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Note that it doesn’t say that you can only trust God once you understand the plan! It asks you to trust before clarity arrives. 

So, what does surrender look like for you? Maybe it’s naming the worry that you have and sharing it with God instead of just carrying it with you in silence. Maybe it’s refusing to rehearse the same what-if scenario for the fifth time today. Real trust isn’t passive. It’s an active choice, repeated daily, sometimes hourly. 

May this song meet you in your own 3am moment. Press play, breathe, tell God what it is you’re holding on to, and ask Him: “Take the wheel.”

(Related scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6; Matthew 11:28; Psalm 55:22)

Background:

We are so proud to release this first single out of 10 from our passion project. Hoping to send healing and comfort into a world that at times can be quite chaotic.

This song comes straight from the heart and is about learning to let go of fear, surrender control, and trust God to lead the way—even when it’s hard.

A huge thank you to Kyle May for your incredible talent, amazing drum work, and for mixing this song. Your musicianship and dedication helped bring this vision to life, and we’re so grateful to have you be a part of it!

Release date: July 24, 2026

Connect with Bonnie Jean Bailey



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