Most of us have been a passenger in a vehicle, while some are drivers, and others have experienced both. As a passenger, what’s going on in your mind as you look through the window? Were you bothered by the driver or not at all?
How about as a driver? How did you feel driving a car or vehicle with precious souls on board? Do you sometimes feel nervous driving a vehicle with a passenger? What are you thinking every time you drive?
Don’t ask me about driving. I don’t know yet how. But as a passenger, I have many things in mind when I look out the window. And recently, God spoke to me about the ride, which I am about to share with you.
The Passenger.
My husband and I recently moved to a new place in the mountains. We enjoyed riding the bus every time we would go to the city to buy groceries and other needs. We would look at the trees, the clouds, fields of green, and rural houses as the bus slowly moved to take in passengers along the way.
We would pray to God for the safety of the travel and have simple conversations; we were not really thinking about the bus we were riding or bothered by the bus driver. We just had total trust and peace as we traveled.
Unfortunately, riding the bus to reach the city in the long run slowly became tiring and inconvenient for us, especially when we still had work to do when we went back home. We also had to wake up very early in the morning just to reach the city at noon so we could go home early as well. Travelling was eating most of our time, and by the time we reached home, we were both dead tired.
The Driver
As such unfortunate demands of the physical body and time limitations, my husband and I decided to purchase a car because it has become a necessity for us. It will only take us forty minutes to an hour by car to go to the main city.
So, as we finally got to ride our own, suddenly, we were both nervous and excited all at the same time. As the ones now in charge of the wheel, my husband and I are more mentally alert to what’s going on the road, being mindful and careful not to hit other vehicles, people, and riders.
I never thought about driving and riding our own car in this perspective since I was a passenger most of my life. I don’t think about engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, tires, and even car scratches and stuff like that.
But since my husband and I are now responsible for our own ride and vehicle, we help remind each other to check everything for safety measures. And looking at how my husband takes in the pressure side of a driver mentally and physically of some sort, I am suddenly appreciating him driving us which God revealed more things.
The Responsibility
Then I remembered about the days we rode the bus and had complete trust in those bus drivers.
I realized what a great responsibility they are carrying and felt how anointed those drivers are in taking the passengers safely to their destination. I suddenly appreciate responsible public drivers who may be taken for granted daily.
They don’t even realize how amazing their calling is as God has entrusted them with such a great responsibility to take precious souls safely to their destinations daily, whether on a plane, a ship, taxi cab, bus, an ambulance, jeepney, or tricycles here in the Philippines, and so on.
If you are one, I just want to say thank you, and I truly appreciate your work. You have an amazing calling and continue to be the responsible driver God called you to be.
In the journey of faith, who is driving the wheel?
One time, my husband taught me how to drive just a few meters in an open lot to let me feel what it is to handle the wheel. As I was about to step on the acceleration pedal, my heart began racing. Many things ran into my mind, “What if the car hit? What if the car suddenly goes over speed and we hit somewhere? What if we get into an accident?” I was extremely nervous at first try but it was a success.
God made me realize how our faith journey is like a ride. When we want to take the wheel and be in control, there are so many things to think about and bear on so many pressures, stresses, fears, and anxieties and cares about our lives.
But, if we allow God to drive the wheel for us, we can simply place our full trust in Him, confident that the journey is going to be alright.
We can have peace looking out the window and seeing the beautifully painted skies with His promises written all across for us.
What is there to worry, be anxious, and be scared about when He who is sovereign, almighty, reliable, faithful and all-powerful is driving the wheel of our lives?
Daddy God is saying, "Let me drive my child. You'll be fine, I promise."
“Be still and know that I am God… (Psalm chapter 46 verse 10).