Monday, February 7, 2011

Driving lessons with God

I am a journaler.  It is my way of sharing with God my thoughts, questions and prayers.  It is frequently in those times I am listening for a word from God - this year He gave me an actual word "trust".  If you'd read my past journal entries (which I am not going to share here) you would see that this is a recurrent theme. Trusting God to the things He has promised.  You would think by now I would have learned those lessons - so to ingrain them I am spending some of my time with God specifically learning about trust.

"In repentance and rest is you salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength." Isaiah 30:15

Just a few short lines but so powerful.  Repentance and rest - to examine my life and through the power of the Spirit repent - confess that I've blown it and  began a new path.  It is when my conscience is clear that I find rest.  It is when I am confident that God will do what He says that gives me rest - I don't need to pre-think/over examine/stress or worry.  I can rest knowing that God is God.

"Quietness and trust is your strength"  as I pondered the meaning of this statement a visual came to mind.  Remembering what it was like to teach my kids to drive.  When we first hit the road I would verbalize all potential hazards, things for them to be aware of, reminders of lessons taught.  I would find myself gripping the armrest "just in case".  As I grew more confident in their driving and trusted their abilities I relaxed. I could enjoy the ride engaging in conversation knowing that we would arrive at our destination safely.

Sometimes I think I flash back to that "instructor" mode with God! I point out things to Him "don't you see that!"  At times I find myself stepping on an imaginary brake or wanting to grab the wheel.  It all comes down to trust.  If I truly trust God, I can rest quietly conversing with Him knowing that even though it seems to me He has taken a wrong turn, is going too fast, or too slow I have the confidence that we will arrive at the correct destination.

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