“Mom, where are we going?”
Apparently, I’ve raised kids who have turned into backseat drivers. So, I exhale trying to channel a little patience.
“You don’t have to know everything. Sit back and enjoy the ride.”
I totally get it. On road trips, I’m the one who likes to ride in the front seat and give directions—if I’m not driving that is.
Maybe I’m a bit type A, I don’t know. I just like efficiency.
Today I was praying for my ministry and found myself trying to plan out my future. I envisioned God opening doors and found myself mapped out how that would affect my life.
Then it occurred to me just what I was doing. I don’t have to make a name or place for myself.
I don’t have to drum up opportunities for speaking or writing. All I have to do is walk through the doors God opens.
Then I remembered all the crazy detours I’ve been on in my life–how God has worked everything out for good. Can’t I trust Him with my future, every bit of it?
God is the driver on our journey, and we’re not even fit to unfold the map. For me, I have so much more peace when I envision myself as the kid in the back seat.
He’s driving, not us, and He wants for us to see the scenery and thank Him for the snowcone. He wants us to enjoy the ride and ask him to turn up the volume on our favorite song.
He’s a good God, and He’s taking us to good places. Even when we heckle Him every five minutes with, “Where are we going?” or “Are we there yet?” He doesn’t mind.
It’s not a perfect analogy and perhaps it sounds a bit naive to suggest it. But what if we discarded the idea that we can co-pilot and navigate with God.
Would our lives be simpler or more joyful if we just embraced the view from the back seat and decided to spend our energy enjoying the ride because we know that God is going to take us to where we need to go?
It takes radical faith that is willing to go where our adventurous, creative God wants to take us.
I’m praying that we can learn to enjoy the ride.
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