Just now, I pictured myself taking the keys out of the “ignition” of my life and handing them to God. Remember Carrie Underwood’s song,”Jesus Take the Wheel”? This is one step further: Jesus take the whole thing.
Life is like having a car. As long as it has gas in the tank, it can take you anywhere you want. You can choose when and where to go. You can maintain it or burn up the engine. You can drive within the speed limit with your seatbelt on, or pretend you’re in a video game or movie and break the speed limit and drive too fast and reckless. If you think the laws of nature don’t apply to you, you can crash and total it – maybe killing yourself and others. Having free will can be a dangerous thing.
Does the thought of giving God the keys to your life make you uncomfortable? If you’re like me, independent and used to making my own decisions about my life and business(es), you may hesitate… You’re living the “If it’s to be, it’s up to me” life, trying to do everything by yourself.
Do any of these statements sound familiar?
- You’re impatient waiting for a door to open, so you knock it down, then learn it was the wrong one and probably hurt yourself.
- Feel you have no help when you need it.
- See the clock ticking as it takes its sweet time, playing you and keeping you from accelerating your goals and what you think has to be done right now.
…and the big one…
- You may think God will take you somewhere you don’t want to go because your way is better. How’s that working out for you?
The real truth is, it’s a control issue and a battle of trust.
To make things “worse,” compare your life to others. If you’re the type to attend seminars, read books and listen to podcasts about where you should be and all you can have if you just do this or that or grind harder, you’ll find yourself chasing what may honestly not be achievable – or right – for you. The reality is, not everyone will be a millionaire, a rock star, or an elite athlete no matter how hard they hustle – or many, many more people would be if that were the only reason! It reminds me of a poster I saw of a starfish out of the water and laying on the beach. The caption read, “Just because you think you’re a star doesn’t mean you’re going anywhere.” Ok, now that’s funny – or maybe not!
So what does the Holy Bible have to say about this? Let’s read Isaiah 33:6 (NIV):
“He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.”
The “fear of the Lord” is a term used in the Holy Bible that means profound respect, awe, and reverence for God, not terror or dread. When we understand who God really is – His majesty, power, and holiness, combined with His immeasurable love for us – it puts life in true perspective. Proverbs 9:10 also says, “The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” When we turn over our human keys to things on Earth and give the key to our heart to Jesus, He opens more than we knew existed in deeply personal ways. He won’t create instability or drive us off a cliff and leave us to fend for ourselves. He will be our firm foundation, opening His doors to salvation and eternity in Heaven, plus rich wisdom, knowledge and understanding. His map will lead us safely home with many amazing adventures along the way if we choose to follow it.
RESET HIGHER: Like everyone else reading this ThinkSpace, it really makes me think too! Let’s ask ourselves, “What am I holding back and not giving it to God?” What is it that makes me say, “I’m comfortable giving You the keys to this, Lord, but not that.” He wants us to trust Him with “that” too.
