I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I entrust my life. Psalm 143:8

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My middle child, Mason, is learning to drive. As much as I want to be the calm parent, teaching and guiding him with patience and composure, I’ve been a nervous wreck.

The first time he drove on the main road, I was as stiff as a board and completely on edge. I would have paid a million dollars to have that extra brake pedal on the passenger side like driver’s ed cars do. And I swear I could hear the words playing in my head from that country song “Jesus, Take the Wheel”!

When my stress started to rub off on Mason, I realized I wasn’t doing him any favors. I had to lighten up. I had to trust him more.

Mason isn’t the only One I need to trust more.

For decades, I’ve been working on my control issues, trying to let go and let God. There are times now when I’m actually successful in getting out of the driver’s seat and letting Jesus take the wheel.

But if I’m being honest, I travel in one of those spiritual cars where it does have a brake on the passenger side, and I’m slamming on it all the time. I’m also a very verbal back seat driver, telling God where to go and pointing out when He’s missed a turn.

Just writing this out makes me realize how obnoxious that is. God created the universe and everything in it. Yet, I’m giving Him directions and telling Him what to do? Really?

I completely get that my control issues come from a lack of trust. Yet, the journey of moving that realization from my head to my heart is taking so much longer than I ever imagined. Sometimes it feels like someone keeps moving my head and my heart farther and farther apart!

The more I relax with Mason behind the wheel, the better a driver he becomes. Sure, some of that comes from practice. But a lot of it comes from trust. The more I trust in him, the more he trusts in himself.

I know I need to trust in God more too. I’m certain the more I let Him steer my life, the better it will be.

Questions for Reflection:

• Do I struggle with trusting God? 
• Where does it happen most?
• What can I do to increase my trust in Him?