Saturday, April 14, 2012

Who's Driving?


I had a dream in which I was a front seat passenger in a luxurious, comfortable car, traveling on a quiet, winding road at dusk. Although the car made hairpin turns as it navigated up through the mountains, along sheer cliffs with nothing but churning ocean below, I felt strangely serene and content, admiring the breathtaking scenery as I settled back into the plush upholstery. Gazing out from my open window I could feel a gentle sea breeze and see the constellation of Orion, and many other stars twinkling brighter as the night sky darkened.

I glanced over at the driver’s seat, then panicked because I could see no one there! Suddenly the joy of this journey disappeared, replaced by confusion and fear over having placed my trust in a driver I could not see.

Next I found myself desperately pedaling a rickety bicycle up the same road, but now I was terrified by the blackening night, and by the sheer drops into sure death if I misjudged the turns. I was wearing a new pair of sneakers, but the canvas had already started to unravel and loose cords were flapping against the bicycle spokes. If they got caught I was sure the bike would crash and send me hurtling off the precipice to a watery grave against the rocks below.

Mercifully, I awakened, and rather than writing off the dream to an overly spicy midnight snack, I wondered if it could hold a lesson for me. We walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7), and faith enables us to trust in what we cannot see (Hebrews 11:1). To find peace in the Christian life we must be willing to yield control to God, focusing on Him alone, and to let Him be in the driver’s seat (Isaiah 26:3). Our actions and even our words and thoughts should be yielded to the Holy Spirit Who indwells every believer at the moment of salvation (2 Corinthians 1:21-22), rather than letting sin control us (Romans 6:11-23).

We don’t always see or understand His plan, but we must trust that He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5-6), and that He is safely conveying us through our perilous journey even when we can’t sense His presence. Only then can we experience the peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:6-7), as we trust that He is working all things together for our good (Romans 8:28).

Jesus’ disciples lost heart in the stormy seas even though their Master was on board their frail boat, because He was sleeping and seemed to be indifferent to their plight. Little did they know that a mere rebuke from His lips would quiet the waves (Matthew 8: 23-26; Luke 8:22-25). When we lose sight of Who God is, and of His limitless power (Revelation 19:6) and love (1 John 4:8-10), our joy and peace at knowing Him may be threatened by our doubt and unbelief (Mark 9:23-24).

At times like these we may resort to our old ways, pridefully trusting in our own flesh to get us out of trouble rather than relying on Him (Romans 7:18), even though without Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5).

In the dream, my own ability to pedal up that dangerous road in the dark was pitifully inadequate, whereas the car with no visible Driver offered safety, security, comfort, and peace. Although our own flesh is unable to withstand many physical struggles, it is even more worthless in the spiritual realm, which is where the greatest battles are fought, with eternal consequences (Ephesians 6:12).

Those bumper stickers saying “Jesus is my copilot” are eye-catching, but in my opinion, they miss the point. As I journey through life, I want Jesus to be the driver, not the copilot! Thankfully, He always will be, as long as we hand the keys over to Him.


© 2012 Laurie Collett

36 comments:

Denise said...

Amen, I want Him driving my life too.

Laurie Collett said...

Amen, Denise! Blessings to you.
Laurie

Audra Marie said...

Such a good post. Love the imagery and spiritual application. :)

Donald Fishgrab said...

Great illustration and message.

Laurie Collett said...

Thanks, Audra Marie, for the kind words!
Have a blessed week in Him,
Laurie

Laurie Collett said...

Thanks, dfish! I appreciate your encouragement.
Blessings,
Laurie

Court D said...

So wise to heed dreams, I always figure God is so big why wouldn't he speak to us in sleeping hours, especially if we haven't been listening in the waking ones!

Laurie Collett said...

Dear Court,
Thanks so much for visiting and commenting! It is awesome how God speaks to us in so many ways, especially through His Word!
May you have a blessed week in Him,
Laurie

Mary said...

This really is an incredible metaphor for life. I'm totally incapable on my own, but, when He's in control, I have nothing to worry about . . . until I forget that He's in control and start trying to do things by my own strength. Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful dream and its interpretation with us!

Laurie Collett said...

Thanks so much, Mary, for visiting and for your kind comment! Without Him, we can do nothing, but with Him, all things are possible!
God bless,
Laurie

a joyful noise said...

Enjoying a lovely ride, with NO ONE in control can be a frightening experience. This is when we must turn the management over to Jesus and allow him to lead. Yes, I like your reference to not the co-pilot, but the driver!

Jodene Shaw said...

So much wisdom and revelation of scriputure in your dream! Dreams like that can be a gift that make the scripture come alive.

Thank you for visiting my blog! I am following you also.

"Jesus, take the wheel."

Laurie Collett said...

Dear A Joyful Noise,
Praise God that He can navigate through any road hazard, and drive us safely to our glorious destination!
Love in Him,
Laurie

Laurie Collett said...

Dear Jolene,
Thanks so much for commenting and following! I appreciate your encouragement -- you are a blessing!
Laurie

Laura said...

Amen to that, Laurie! Wow, that was some dream. I love what you took away from it. Amazing how we hear when we listen. That's a good lesson for me today.

Laurie Collett said...

Thanks, Laura, I'm glad it helped you today! I believe He is whispering loving words to us all the time -- may we hear Him before He has to shout!
God bless,
Laurie

Deanna Kohlhofer said...

What an awesome post! Thank you for sharing this lesson in such a powerful way.

a joyful noise said...

Thank you for sharing your story at "Tell Me a True Story." Do return again next week with more of your stories. I do believe that God can minister to us through dreams. He certainly did give you inspiration through this scary dream with NO driver. As in the dance there must be one who leads and we can depend on Jesus to take us safely to our destination.

Charlotte said...

This is such an interesting post. I like the interpretation of the dreams. I certainly want Jesus in the driver's seat. Thank you for sharing.
Blessings,
Charlotte

Joan Davis (Jo) said...

I saw a sign in front of a church which is similar to the bumper sticker you mention...only they got it right! It said, "If Jesus is your co-pilot, change seats!" I agree with you...I want Jesus to be the one driving! Sometimes it is difficult to let go and give control to Someone we cannot see, however, when we do, we can be sure that He'll never steer us wrong!

Blessings, Joan

Laurie Collett said...

Hi Deanna,

Thanks so much for visiting and for your kind comment!

God bless,
Laurie

Laurie Collett said...

Hi, A Joyful Noise!
You're very welcome, and thanks so much for hosting the link-up! I always do try to link up when my blog posts have some autobiographical elements -- sometimes, there more of a Bible study without personal illustrations, and then I'm not sure if they'd fit in at your site.
Thanks again, and God bless!
Laurie

Laurie Collett said...

Dear Charlotte,
Thanks for your encouragement! Amen to Jesus in the driver's seat!
Love in Him,
Laurie

Laurie Collett said...

Dear Joan,
Oh, I really do like that bumper sticker much better! Not only should we leave the driving to Him, but we would probably do well to forget about backseat driving when He is in the driver's seat!
God bless,
Laurie

Alecia Simersky said...

Beautiful imagery, it's funny how safe you felt in a car being driven by an invisible driver, but not on a bike driven by you. That's definitely how life is. When we allow God to control things we are safe and do not have to worry, the trouble comes when we take matters into our own hands.

Laurie Collett said...

Dear Alecia,
Thanks so much for visiting and for your kind and thoughtful comment! It's amazing that the Creator of all cares enough for us to safely lead us on our journey through life, yet we insist on using our own pitiful strength to race away even when we have no idea where we are going.
God bless,
Laurie

Martianne said...

Oh, to remember to relinquish the wheel to Him!

Laurie Collett said...

Thanks so much, Martianne, for your visit & comment!
Love in Him,
Laurie

Joan Hall said...

Love this, Laurie and I agree - Jesus does not need to be our copilot, He needs to be the driver.

Blessings,
Joan

Laurie Collett said...

Amen, Joan! I want Him piloting my journey.
God bless,
Laurie

Sadee Schilling said...

What an incredible dream and a beautiful picture of faith He was painting for you--even in your sleep!

Laurie Collett said...

Hi Sadee,
Thanks so much for visiting and commenting! He is awesome to bless us in so many ways!
Love in Him,
Laurie

Stacy @ Heartprints of God said...

Who better to pilot our lives the THE ONE who knows the beginning from the end, and who loved us with HIS life?

Great analogy.

Thanks for linking up at "Heartprint Hallelujahs".
~Stacy

Laurie Collett said...

Well said, Stacy! Praise God that He is our loving, all-knowing Pilot!
God bless,
Laurie

Unknown said...

Jesus take the wheel. Great post. Thank you for sharing.

Laurie Collett said...

Thanks, Donna, for your encouragement. May you have a blessed week in Him!
Laurie