Six one-hour driving lessons with Mr. Charles in his black Hyundai Sonata and I had enough. "Look left, right, left. If you're clear, you're moving." He said this word-for-word at every stop sign we came to, which quickly became too many stop signs. His gray hair, black glasses, and excessively boring voice stick with me. I can definitely say I learned from him, but as I said, six lessons were enough.
Taking driving lessons was annoying. For those who have gone through it, you probably had some random instructor critiquing your every turn, stop, acceleration, deceleration, and oh boy.... parallel parking. Yup, you were constantly told to drive like the safest driver on the roads, which ironically makes you the most dangerous by instilling road rage in the other, "not-so-safe" drivers.
And the worst part, was that Mr. Charles' car was equipped with a brake pedal in the passenger seat. And he would reach over and grab the steering wheel at any time. He would pretty much take the role as the driver. And that's frustrating! I don't know about you, but I like to be in control. And I am not a fan of driving with an instructor who does not trust my ability to drive.
But are we the Mr. Charles in our drive with God? Could He be frustrated with us trying to grab the wheel and apply the brakes?
"How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?
Look on me and answer, Lord my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,
and my enemy will say, "I have overcome him,"
and my foes will rejoice when I fall."
Psalm 13: 1-4
It's hard for us to commit to the idea that if we really commit to God, He is the driver and we are just the passenger. How often do we get impatient, pressing the brake pedal, or grabbing the wheel from Him?
Do we feel forgotten? Or that He has left us? Have we been distraught with the struggles of seemingly unanswered prayers or sorrows and struggles that have lasted longer than we desired?
Do we pressure Him to give us immediate answers, or to tell us exactly how we are getting to our destination? These doubts impair our relationship with God and can make the ride less joyful.
How are we trying to grab the wheel? How are we applying the brakes in life? Only through putting full faith in the driver will we be able to take His route to our destination. Easier said than done. And at times it will be scary, as I'm sure it was for Mr. Charles, but God knows what he's doing (unlike some of the student drivers) and He just wants us to believe in Him and let go of our doubts.
"But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing the Lord's praise,
for he has been good to me."
Psalm 13: 5-6
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