Letting God be the Driver of Your Life

"Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat; I am." ~ Matthew 16:24 MSG

I'm gonna be real here: I'm a control freak. I like having set times. I like to know exactly what's going to happen before it does. I like knowing that I have control over things in my life and I'm pretty sure everyone else does. But what Jesus is saying to the disciples here is something that stops many control freaks, like me, in their tracks.

Ever been in the car with someone? Whether you both are taking a road trip or just driving to your favorite place, you may or may not know how to get there but you trust the one who is driving that they do-that they are going to bring you both to your destination safely. Or you may know a way but the driver knows a different way. But you still choose to trust that they know what they are doing.

This concept must be the same in our journey with God.

We know that God has a plan for us and that He has called us to great things. But let's face it, we don't know how to get there or we think the way to get there is taking way too long. So we end up taking things into our own hands thinking it will get us there quicker. But it only leaves us confused, going in circles, and disappointed. That's where we turn to God and ask for the directions. But asking God for directions will cost you something; it will cost you to surrender.

In chapter 16, Jesus was telling His disciples that in order to follow Him, they are to leave their selfish ways and take up their cross, meaning they had to surrender their lives to God in order to follow Him. They didn't know what they were going to endure, but because they had faith and trusted in Him, they left what they knew behind to follow the One who knew what was in front.

If I can be real again, most times we want to follow God but don't want to give up the things we hold on to. Little do we know that the things we hold on to are preventing us from going after God and giving Him full control over our lives (ouch, I know). We don't want to let go of the plans we already created for ourselves. We rather take the easy route because we think we know better. We think that we can just create our own story and pray that God goes along with it, but unfortunately it doesn't work that way.

A moment of surrendering to His will is all it takes for God to start working and to help us start moving. Total surrender is trusting Him when you don't know where you're going but trusting that He will lead you & He is already there.

The longer we refuse to surrender to God, the longer it will take for us to get to where God wants us to be. God doesn't want or ask us to have it all figured out. He wants us to rely on Him for His guidance, His wisdom, His direction. "Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long." ~ Psalms 25:4-5

I know I'm not the only one who hates when my life plans get interrupted. When that happens, I can't help but worry and believe that my life is over (my total control freaks know the deal). But I realize that when my life plans get interrupted, I am reminded that they are for my good (Romans 8:28). They are to remind and teach me that God is the one in control. Things will not always go my way but they will always go His way on His timetable.

In John 16, before Jesus was about to leave to go to the Heavenly Father, He spoke to His disciples about the help that was to come, which is the Holy Spirit. We are never meant to do this road of life alone. He has given us His Holy Spirit as a loving gift to guide, convict, speak, and lead us through every area in our life. "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come." (John 16:13). His Holy Spirit is His gift to us.

We may not know what the path will look like. We may not know what trials and tests we will have to face. We may not know what we will lose along the way. But we must choose to trust Him anyway because He does. We won't be afraid to ask because we know that He has the answers to everything we ask for. "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do." (James 1:5-8)

The same way we trust the driver to get us to our destination, is the way we must trust God in the journey and plans He has for us. So when you're tempted to try to go your own way and put things into your hands, remember the One who formed them. He knows the way. Surrender your plans over to Him and let His plan take place. Trust the bumpy roads and sharp turns. Trust the red and green lights that happen in life. Let go of off the wheel and let Him be the driver of your life. Know that He is in control of whatever you're holding on to. Let go and let God lead.

Father God,

thank you for the gift of life. Help us to live life for you and not for our personal gain. I pray that You help us give up control over everything in our lives to You. I pray against the spirit of worry, doubt, and fear; instead of giving into them, may we turn to You. Open our hearts, so that we can allow the Holy Spirit to lead and speak to us. May we rest in the fact that You Lord have good plans for us even when things don't go how we planned. May we have a desire to see Your will happen above our own. No matter what circumstance we encounter, may we simply trust that You will guide us to where you want us to be. In Your Son, Jesus's name I pray, amen.