I like to drive fast. I always have, and I still do. Vrooom….
I got my driver’s license as soon as I could. And because I shared my dad’s love of muscle cars, my first car was a Chevy Camaro. I loved driving as fast as the law would allow (and then some). When I was 16, time was on my side. Feeling free with few deadlines, to-do lists, expectations and pressures upon me, driving fast was just pure fun and joy!
But, I am not 16 anymore. Not in age or feeling. I am not free anymore. Deadlines, pressures, to-do lists and expectations are a part of daily life. But, I still drive fast. Faster than I should. And, it’s not for fun anymore. I am always hustling to get somewhere: Taking kids to school on time, getting to work on time, getting to Bible study on time, picking kids up on time, getting to church on time, and so on – and on and on…
I drive fast, but I don’t have fun anymore. Instead, I am filled with irritation and frustration.
Time has turned against me. In the car, I am joyless.
Then last week, God showed me that enough was enough. It was Monday, and I pulled onto Main Street to take my daughter to school. The two lane road was full of traffic and there was no way to go around anyone. I actually had to go the speed limit. All the way to school. I was filled with frustration! Later that morning on my way to work, again my efforts to go around other cars were halted. Every time I would get clear of a slow vehicle, some other vehicle like a Semi-truck would pull out in front of me and I would be forced to go the speed limit or slower.
This scene played out in front of me ALL WEEK LONG! Literally everywhere I went, my path was clogged and I was forced to slow down. I was frustrated, angry and overcome with desperate feelings. I yelled at every slow driver and did not abide by my vow to avoid profanity (not by a long shot!).
That’s when it happened.
As I crawled along the road at 15 mph on Friday morning, feeling my anger and irritation exploding to the surface at the thought of being late for work, I heard the words “Be still and know that I am God”. Huh, what? God, are you talking to me? Then, I heard it again, “Be still and know that I am God”.
Suddenly, I felt calm! Well, calmer. Much calmer than I had all week long. As I drove on, I focused on God’s words. And when I got to work, I looked up the scripture itself.
Psalm 46:10 – “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Actually, all of Psalms 46 spoke to me, convicting me and helping me to see that when I was in the car, my thoughts could still be joyful. The Word says that “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” And twice the Word says that“The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”
It turns out that I am free, regardless of the demands on my time. It turns out that I can be happy, even when I am running behind. God is always with me! He is my ever-present help! I trust Him all the rest of my time and now I understand that I must be still and trust Him, even when I am in the car! It turns out it’s the perfect place to talk to Him, to be still and find refuge, strength and joy.
*Feel free to download a lock screen for your phone to help remind you to “Be still” and know that He is God.*
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