Passenger side or driver’s seat?

It started with me on the passenger side, and Kaitlyn in the driver’s seat. My heart was pounding, and I just kept eyeing that emergency brake! As scared as I was, I still felt if I could reach the emergency brake we’d be fine no matter what. After all, I was imagining everything that could go wrong, not all the things that could go right! After a few back and forth in the driveway, it was Tom’s turn to experience the moment; he now was in the passenger seat! I never felt so out of control of something, as I did sitting in the garage just watching her pull in and out of the driveway! I cannot tell you how many times I gasped for air, held my breath, pushed on my imaginary brake… all from inside the GARAGE!!! I literally sat on my hands while watching! Funny, how I felt more in control when I was in the passenger seat…

I got to thinking about my relationship with the Lord. I was thinking back on the different “road trips” I’ve taken with Him. Of course I insisted on being the driver, but more than not, I often drove solo! ‘I got this one, God, thanks!’ No wonder I crashed! Could you imagine if I just let Kaitlyn jump into the car and try it on her own? I mean what exactly would that have looked like? She would have panicked, she wouldn’t have known where to begin, the entire event would have been far more stressful than necessary! Instead, I sat there and showed her which was the gas pedal and which was the brake, I explained why you only use one foot and not both feet. I described that she needed to turn on the key, put the foot on the brake, move the car into reverse, release the emergency brake, ease her foot off the brake… all of that… why did I have to be so specific? Because she’d never done it before! She’d never sat in the drivers seat! My presence made her first experience not so stressful.

So often we think that taking the journey with God is releasing our control, never being in the driver’s seat, and never having any power. Its so not true! God has always asked me to partner with Him; every journey I’ve taken He’s always just asked that He be in the passenger seat. He’s always given me the keys, and I’ve always had control of the wheel. He’s just asked if I would let Him in on the passenger side, so He could keep His eye on the emergency brake and explain to me the whys, the hows, and the order of things. He’s always wanted to exchange His burden for mine; His wisdom and knowledge for my lack.

I want Kaitlyn to become a competent, safe, and very capable driver. I don’t want to have to be in the car with her forever! I definitely want the perks of “Hey, Kait, run to the store and get some bread!” or “Please, go pick up your brother.” God is the same way! He wants us to be very capable, safe, and competent warriors, preachers, teachers, mothers, writers, or whatever He’s called us to be. He just wants to come along for the ride, so He can make up for where we lack. What Kaitlyn lacked in wisdom and knowledge about driving I had, and so we made an exchange. I took her fear and anxiety, and replaced it with confidence and knowledge on how to operate a car.

When taking a journey with God we have three choices, we can get in the driver seat and let God off at the corner, get in the passenger seat and tell Him how to drive – which gets us no where, or get in the car, buckle up, and listen to the co-pilot until we can drive the route confidently!

I may not always be in the passenger seat with Kait in the car, but I will always be there to help her pilot new journeys if needed. Just like God, He never steps out of the co-pilot seat in our lives either! Now that I’ve been on the outside of the car watching my daughter on the inside of one… I have a new appreciation of what it must be like for the Lord, when I’ve taken the car and dropped Him off at the corner… I hope to remember this feeling the next journey He and I take together!