I didn’t get married until I was 35 years old. Because I was single and independent for so long, I needed to make some adjustments in my life once I got married.  For instance, when my husband Billy and I were speaking, I would always refer to “my” bedroom versus “our” bedroom. For all my life, it was “my” bedroom…so now I needed to make a change when referencing our bedroom.

Another adjustment for me was Billy taking over the finances. I had managed my finances for many years and now I needed to surrender control to him. I have since taken over the finances again but only because of my husband’s busy schedule working 2 jobs!

Sometimes letting go of control is not a trust issue but just a getting used to someone else in charge issue… like Billy taking over our finances. I just needed to get used to him taking them over.

But sometimes…well many times… letting go of control is a trust issue. For example, an area of trust I struggle with has been when my husband and I are out and he is driving.

You see, Billy isn’t a bad driver…it’s just that I am a “not so good passenger!” I have driven a car on my own for over 25 years, so letting Billy drive has been a challenge. From my perspective as the passenger, he doesn’t apply the brakes soon enough…I mean I see a lot of red tail lights ahead, so if I were driving I would begin to apply the brakes. Billy waits…not to the point of putting us in danger…but to the point that makes me nervous. It puts me so on edge when he is driving! Believe it or not, I still have issues with this.  He isn’t a bad a driver…I am just a “not so good passenger!” Being a “not so good passenger,” I want to be in control and I lack trust in my driver! As you can see I am a mess! You can be praying for me!

Maybe you have experienced this and are a “not so good passenger” too…Maybe as the passenger you don’t feel your driver applies the brakes at what you consider the right time or maybe as the passenger you have wanted to grab the steering wheel and just take control!

Maybe you are a “not so good passenger” when it comes to driving your car…but what about when it comes to driving your life???

First and foremost, is God in the driver’s seat of your life? …Which as Christians is one of the first steps after accepting Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

Lord means “master”…the one who calls the shots …the one in control…the one in charge. Many people accept Jesus as their Savior (kind of like fire insurance) but not as the Lord of their life. Romans10:9 says “Jesus is Lord” meaning right now…present tense. Not “I think I will put him control when I am ready or I think I will put him in control over some things in my life, but not everything.” If He isn’t Lord over all…He isn’t Lord at all!

Jesus is referred to as “Savior” 24 times and as “Lord” 747 times in the New Testament! It is very clear that the biblical emphasis is …Jesus as our Lord! …Not just our Savior.

Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life… 1 Peter 3:15NLT

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him… Colossians 2:6 NIV

Now don’t get me wrong…I am not saying surrendering all control over to Jesus is easy…frankly it’s hard! But as you grow in your relationship with Jesus, your trust should grow and consequently it should be easier to surrender all to Him.

So, let’s say Jesus is in your driver’s seat…are you letting him drive…His Way??? You see he doesn’t need you pulling out your I-phone and giving him directions…He doesn’t need your AAA road map (do people still use those? Seriously, I really don’t know) to help Him take you where He wants to take you…He doesn’t need you punching in the address of your desired destination in your car’s navigational system. He doesn’t need you! If anything we get in the way of His map for our lives…His destiny for our lives…His purpose for our lives…when we decide to take control.

What is it for you? Is it a just getting used to someone else in charge issue or is it a trust issue? Or is it both?

Letting go is sometimes a getting used to someone else in charge issue. As a new or young believer in Christ, this may be you. It may take a little time for you to put Jesus in your driver’s seat because for all your life you were in control. As you grow in your relationship with him, your trust in Him will grow. It is just like in any relationship you have with someone …when you get to know the other person better you begin to trust them more. And so this is the same with your relationship with Jesus…as you read God’s word, as you learn more about his nature and who He is, as you surround yourself with other Christians, you will trust him more…and thus let him have control.

Letting go, however, is many times a trust issue. As a Christian who has had a relationship with Jesus for awhile, this may be you. You have placed God in your driver’s seat but you are that “not so good passenger.” You still want control over your life…you want control over the steering wheel and the brakes of your life…You are the one sitting in the passenger seat holding a map giving Him instructions for your life.

Is Jesus in control…driving and steering your life today? Or are you a “not so good passenger?”

Have you surrendered control to him…but not in every area of your life? Are there certain areas that you still want to control?

Do you trust him completely to take you through the roads of life? Do you want to grab the steering wheel sometimes or just slam on the brakes because you are just not sure where He is taking you? Or maybe you want to head down a different road than the one He is taking you down?

When Jesus is in the driver’s seat and controlling the steering wheel, the ride is much smoother! He doesn’t need an I-phone, AAA street map, or a navigational system…He is the navigational system!!!

He knows exactly where He is going, where He is taking you, why He is taking you there and how He is going to do it. He knows the exact speed to hit all the green lights and the exact red light stops to make. He knows when to slow down and when to speed up…He knows every turn to make and every road to take…. He knows which speed bumps he will carry you over, every bridge you will cross with Him, and every dark tunnel He will take you through… to take you from point A to point B…to take you to the purpose and destiny he has for you!

If Jesus isn’t in your driver’s seat today, it’s not too late for Him to take the wheel. If you are a “not so good passenger” always trying to take control, it’s not too late to trade in your map for his map for your life.

After all, don’t you think he can handle you and you life better than you can?

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11NIV

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV

Reflection Points:

1)      Is God in your driver’s seat? Is he driving and steering your life?

2)      If he is in your driver’s seat, are you a good passenger or a “not so good passenger?”

3)      Are you trying to grab the steering wheel or brakes of your life?

4)      As the passenger, are you giving him directions for your life?

5)      What keeps you from giving him your driver’s seat or from having complete control over your life? What keeps you from making him the Lord of your life?

6)      What areas in your life do you need to surrender to Him today?

Action Points:

1)      Begin today putting Jesus in your driver’s seat. It is our choice whether we want to drive or we want Him to drive. Accept Him not just as your Savior but also your Lord…You can’t have Him as just your Savior! See Romans 10:9

2)      If you struggle with surrendering completely to Him, pray that He would help you release control over to Him.

3)      Read God’s word daily to get your priorities straight by putting Him first. Matt 6:33

4)      Read God’s word and get to know Him better so your trust and faith will grow.