I have been driving since I was 17. (I feel privileged since my dad wasn’t going to allow me to drive until I was 18. He was rather possessive of his car… if you know what I mean). For all you Math majors that means I have been driving for a total of 41 years. That also means that I have been driving for longer than many of you have been on this earth. 😮 I have had my share of close calls and accidents, fortunately nothing major. I could tell you about the time a horse came out of a gully at the side of the road and I hit it. (That is one of those Don’t Ask and I won’t tell moments). I could tell you about the 12-point buck that came out of the median of a four-lane highway and I nailed it at 59 mph in a Chevy Astro Van. It took 4 shots from the State policeman to put him out of his misery. I could tell you about the worst of my accidents when I looked but did not see a car at a country intersection and if I hadn’t hesitated a moment (5 speed), I could have lost my wife and oldest daughter (Tami). I could also tell you about the time I stopped on the RR tracks and well…I imagine you can guess the rest. 😛
But. that. would. not. be. my. scariest. moment.
It was late December of 1998 and we had gone to the Indianapolis airport to pick up Tami, who was flying in from Florida. Jo & I had left earlier that day to spend the day in Indy. I was driving a 1996 Chevy S-10 Extended Cab. They are notorious for loose rear-ends in slick conditions. I normally put five 50 lb. bags of sand in the bed to give me weight, but when we left that day it was nice. We went to the airport (this was before 9/11) so we waited in the boarding area for her. Weather delayed her flight but I never gave it a thought. After all, that was in Detroit. Little did I know what it was doing outside in good old Indiana. It wasn’t until I got away from the airport garage that I realized the weather had deteriorated badly. I decided to follow the advice of people and stay off the Interstate and take St.Rd 40 home. I was doing fine as long as I was following the IDOT plow/salt truck, but when he pulled off to turn around I had this funny feeling like I was in for a long night. Tami was scrunched into the extended cab on one of those little jump seats and we were chatting away when we started up an incline. That is when I found out the road conditions were almost ice and not having weight in the back of the truck was a bad idea. I can remember trying to get the truck under control while doing pirouettes on the ice. Mercifully, we came to rest backwards against a snow bank with the left rear dinged up and the left rear wheel off the rim. We were all okay…a little shaken up…but okay. Thanks to the goodness of some passersby, a tow truck was called and we were taken to a gas station and a hotel (actually not too far from where we now live). Frankly, there is no feeling as helpless as being out of control. I could have been Jeff Gordon and I could not have stopped my truck from figure skating on the ice.
No one likes to feel out of control- in driving or in life. Some circumstances are worse than others, I know, but I stand by that. NO ONE likes to feel as though their life is out of control. Being out-of-control often brings fear, or despair, or defeat, or surrender to the circumstances. Some are immobilized, paralyzed. Christ-followers are not immune to this syndrome. Sometimes it is even worse because we take our eyes off the goodness and grace of God, and place them on the betrayal we feel from that very same God. But this is where the rubber meets the road. We say God is in control. NOW is the time we have to put feet to those words. Do we or don’t we believe it? I wish I could say I have passed every test. That would be a bold-faced lie. But fortunately, I serve a very patient God who is willing to hang in there with me, all while I am saying, “I believe. Help my unbelief.”
How about you? Had any of those out-of-control moments? How did you react? What did you learn? If you care to share any thoughts I would be glad to hear them.
This post was inspired by the threat of 3-6″ of fresh snow 🙂 and a chapter on God Is In Control by Greg Surratt from What Is God REALLY Like? by Craig Groeschel.
One moment that comes to mind was while we were in the hospital for the birth of our first daughter. Everything was fun until some complications came up. I remember feeling helpless because there was nothing I could do in that situation. Everything ended up progressing okay, and looking back I’m thankful for the time my wife and I spent in prayer!
Even though I was not allowed in the delivery room with either birth, I have been around enough parents to know that it is a hopeless feeling when things aren’t progressing right. All you can do is pray. Glad all turned out well Dustin. Thanks for coming by again.
I enjoyed this post.
I wanted to tell you though, is there a possibility you can quit using pink? It doesn’t show up good and I can’t hardly read it.
I don’t know why.
It may be a problem with my google reader.
Duane: thanks for telling me. I changed it to Maroon. See if that is better. I will keep that in mind from now on. Glad you enjoyed the post. Thanks.
I was about to write “I am okay with control” then I asked “Whom am I kidding?”
Most of the time, it’s trying to understand what is going on. It drives me nuts to know only one part of something and not the rest of the story (or another perspective).
On the other hand, even though a lot of people tell me I am a leader, I feel more like a follower – “Tell me what to do” kind of thing. Ergo, I don’t really like to be in control (guess I just don’t like the responsibility the decisions bring).
But it’s certainly great to know that God is in control. Whenever I feel overwhelmed, I remind myself of that and I can breathe again. Ahh… the freedom of knowing that I don’t HAVE to be in control 🙂
Thanks, Bill.
You definitely lay out the struggle that comes with control vs. leadership Zee. That struggle is a healthy one I think. But I will totally agree with your last paragraph.
Side: Check out my comments on the previous post. Ani sent you a message.
This is a good one. What do you believe kind of question. I don’t believe God puts bumps in my road to test me nor removes bumps because he cares. Consequently I never feel betrayed when the bumps occur.
I rarely feel I can not do something to make a bad situation better. But sometimes I can’t and such is life so I deal with it. I don’t think God is going to intercede and change the circumstance. My God is not that involved.
Praying may help my attitude but I don’t think it changes my fortunes.
Good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to good people.
I am most rewarded when I can assist someone in alleviating their bump in the road.
Just do what you can and don’t worry about what you can’t.
You make some good points jeff. I do think God is involved in our lives but that He is also bound by His own character i.e. allowing us to make decisions that may or may not affect our bumps. Your thought on prayer is a good one. I definitely like the idea of helping other get over their bumps. Thanks for the comment.
Hi Bill,
I had an out of control day just a few days ago. I reacted by being very unsettled and anxious. I think what I learned was that when that happens to me again I need to sit down somewhere and pray and ask God to help me settle down.
The next day I thought to myself ‘you were out of control yesterday, not good , you needed to ask God to help you and get yourself settled down earlier’.
I ended up having an unsettled sleep that night too.
Things were happening in my legal case that I thought were really important and I was uncertain of what I should or what I should not do in response.
On my recent out of control day I forgot God. My goal is to keep myself in a reasonable equalibrium no matter what is occuring around me. I can’t do that without the Holy Spirit and without my learning how to give myself over into the control of the Holy Spirit in those times.
Let Him do the driving, so to speak.
Linda: I think we all have those kinds of days. The important thing is that you recognized it (even though it was a day later) and dealt with it. Hoping that unsettledness has settled down. Thanks for sharing your heart on this topic.
I read Proverbs 19 today and v. 21 stood out for me: “Many are the plans in the mind of a man; but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.”
I put this verse as my status on FB with this as my follow-up comment- So many times I try to go through life on my plans- trusting in myself and finding out that lets me down every single time. God’s purpose, His plans for me are what will stand the test of time. I may not like them but know that they are ultimately what is best. If I am seeking after Him- then I can (and will) rest in those promises and stand secure in Him. My fretting, my anxiety can all be put aside because He is the one in full control. The question is am I willing to let him lead me or will I continue to try to take back control?
Then, in one of the books you got me for Christmas there is this quote: “God knows our hearts’ desires far better than we do. The last thing we want is to settle for anything that is not his best for us. When we choose to hope in God, we trust that he will deliver the very best… in his way and in his timing.” Marian Jordan
For me- to fully trust in Him- means giving up any thought of control that I might have…
That is a great Scripture! Sort of goes along with the Jeremiah one. 🙂 I think we all tend to struggle from time to time with control and then find out (sometimes almost too late) that we would have been better off letting go of the control. I like the quote. It is a good one. You know I always welcome your thoughts. I love you.
Have been praying for you lots lately. Wondering how you are.
As for out of control moments..that would be a daily thing! lol! You should see me drive! Watch out Iowa! I skidded in front of a garbage truck today…I almost ended up in a “crunch”!
Sometimes I forget as out of control life may seem, God’s got me safe in His Hands. It’s hard to remember sometimes huh?
Julie: hanging in there. The whole scenario is just getting started but God is showing Himself true. The church is really rallying together and it is great to see. I read your post on your drive back to the Post office. 🙂 No comment on the driving part. Cool about the other though. And gotta agree with your last question. No doubt. Thanks for sharing your humor and thoughts Julie.
You have a great gift for “rallying” and grace. Will continue to pray.
THAT is much appreciated. 🙂
Well – there are plenty of examples in my life of really having no control. The loss of my job (ministry) 2 years ago was the biggest and scariest time when I learned this but in it God has done some amazing things. I am a poster child for “I believe. God help my unbelief.” I would suspect that many of us are though. Thanks for the good read with a great point.
Jim: I can certainly attest to a loss of job as making one feel out of control. But God is faithful. Can I get in that poster with you? Thanks for your open comment.
Many times I’ve felt out of control. The last 2 months of last year were very tough. And the majority of the spiraling in my head. It was scary because I couldn’t dig myself out.
Michael: not sure all that you went through but hope you have dug out and are “on top” again. Thanks for coming by.
On top now Bill. 🙂
That is cool Michael. good to hear it.
I am living out of control at the moment. I did not see this post last night but God was telling me this morning that I need some peace and quiet. I have tried to contol it and yes I am spinning out of control and a little dinged up with my wheel off the rim. I was reminded that God is the comforter in all of this and yet I have trusted in my own ways and need to stop and be reminded of Him who is in control. Thanks Bill!
Life seems to get like that from time to time you know? Least you recognize when it is out of control and then allow the Spirit to lead you to that place of peace and rest. Thanks Tom.
I’ve pretty much had several “out of control” YEARS here lately.
Ouch! Don’t know what to say about that Bernard.
Not trying to be dramatic, but it really does feel that way a lot. 😉
Gotta agree with you on that. Sometimes it seems endless. Prayers being said for you.
>>But fortunately, I serve a very patient God who is willing to hang in there with me, all while I am saying, “I believe. Help my unbelief.”
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Amen and amen, Bill. Mark 9:24 should be posted above the doors of every church in America for all to see.
Agree. If I could I would do that here and above my office door. Fact is, on my desk would better suit. 🙂
I’ve had these moments. Sometimes I have responded with trust, sometimes with doubt/fear. Which way I responded usually depended upon my prayer-life and bible study habits at the time.
SP (Matt): good to have you visit my blog. I have enjoyed reading yours. I think you hit on the key: much of our response does depend on the closeness of our relationship with the Lord at the time. Thanks again for coming by.
Loose rear-ends can be a problem in all their forms (Sorry I couldn’t resist). 🙂
I think feeling overwhelmed and out of control (when I’m not keeping my eyes on God) produces a lot of anxiety. If I’m not careful, it leads to acting out in some ways, as if to relieve the pressure. So much better just to trust Him and give Him His rightful place as Lord and Savior.
Great post, Bill. Always need this reminder.
Yeah, it would take a pastor from Alaska to say something. 😛 Never thought about the acting out part. Good thought. Thanks Jason.