Oh the feel of that driver’s permit in our hand!  A certain access to freedom for sure. We all know the story. Let me drive!  I’ve seen you do it a million times. How hard can it be?  That’s precisely when the parent starts to look at you as though you’ve lost your mind. However, you stand your ground. You’re 15 years old. What do they know?! Well, as it turns out, a lot. So, the negotiations start and at some point, a compromise is made. I get to drive through the neighborhood. As soon as we reach the highway, dad takes over. Not exactly what I wanted, but the choice is not mine to make. 

If you have stepped over that line of faith and made Jesus your Lord, guess what?  You don’t get to drive the highway of your life. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NLT) says “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you, and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.”  Just for clarity, I want to reiterate the “you do not belong to yourself” part. That seems to trip us up on a daily basis. We have this idea that Christianity is a ticket into Heaven when we die and I get to do whatever I “feel” like on this earth. Wrong!  Christianity is I now belong to Jesus and whatever He wants to do with me on this earth is up to Him and when I die, I’ll spend eternity in Heaven with Him. Two different ideas. Two different drivers of the same car. See, if you’re in the driver’s seat and your “map quest” is navigated by fleshly feelings, you are sure to crash!  Feelings don’t always lead you down the right roads. Sometimes they do. If they’re in sync with the Lord, feelings are good. They can be a warning or a prompting to do good. Most of the time, though, feelings are our flesh. Do whatever feels good. It’s not so bad. Everybody’s doing “that”!  So as a student driver with no experience, you throw all caution to the wind and wind up in a lot of messes. All the while, the Lord is throwing up caution signs and red lights!

The other optional driver to operate this most difficult automobile is the Lord. Best choice! Not only did He make the vehicle (you), He knows every road we will travel on and will never require “map quest”. Psalm 24:1 says “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and its people belong to Him.”  He knows how to navigate. He knows where you need to be. He knows what’s good for you and He knows how to get you there safely. How can we possibly fathom that we know our lives better?  The Maker always knows His creation and for what purpose He made it. We deceive ourselves and then wonder why things aren’t going so well. We took the wheel! We didn’t want to go where He was taking us so we took the reins and went a different route. 

The prophet Isaiah reminds us in chapter 55 verses 8-9 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.”  He’s telling us loud and clear that He’s all powerful, all knowing and has the ability to dazzle us beyond our wildest dreams. Not to mention that He loves us so unconditionally that He promises never to leave us or forsake us. Even in the times that we “drive” and are headed for certain disaster, He’s still there. He’s tugging at our hearts the whole time saying “Please let me drive. I know this terrain so much better.”  In our most stubborn moments, when we ignore Him, He’s still right there with us. He knows He’ll have a big mess to clean up later. Isn’t that what the Ultimate Parent does for His children? He won’t override our “free will” but He knows some lessons will only be learned the hard way. And some lessons really are harder than others. 

Knowing all of this, are you sure you have what it takes to navigate life? I hope you don’t think you do. We clearly have no idea what’s up ahead. We don’t know about the other drivers on the road. Is God controlling their lives or are they?  Only He knows. Only Jesus has the all knowing ability to get you safely from A to B. Let Him be in charge so the caution stays at a bare minimum. Oh, there will be times that you feel uncomfortable, but do not worry. God knows what He’s doing. Why are we going this way?  I’m sure it’s to teach us something. Don’t question His every turn. His motive is love. You can trust Him. He’s equipping you on every type of terrain. Don’t be a prideful student driver. Let Him teach you. Get your understanding from Him and His word alone. This world is hard enough. Don’t make it tougher than it has to be. Just be content being His child. Let Him drive! He loves you!

Today’s writer is Brandi Crowe. A hairdresser for over 25 years, she is currently the owner of Brandi Crowe salon in Buford, GA. She loves hiking, a good cup of coffee and spending time with family and friends. Brandi lives in a custom farmhouse with her husband, Robby and cat, Harold.