Driving brings out the worst in me. I become impatient, belligerent, even hostile behind another driver. Especially when they are not driving the way I would like them to drive. Faster, always faster, is my preference for drivers. I often apologize to Jesus out loud for not being more loving in my thoughts and words while driving. Alarming but true story, I think I have mentally committed murder many times over behind the wheel of my Santa Fe.
In the end I often end my rants with praying about why I am so frustrated. As I begin pondering my recent driving profanities and malicious thoughts I always end by blessing the person I cursed (and asking The Lord to take my license so I will learn how to love others better.) He is gracious and has maintained my drivers license, but I think it may be because He doesn’t want to drive me to work. Haha.
But seriously, I often end with one thought: I am so impatient when I am not in control. I want to get there faster no matter what area of life I am walking or driving or running through. I do not want to hear, “Wait, stop, be still,” or any other variation of words meaning, “Don’t move.” But sometimes not moving is the quickest way to your destination. Our not moving doesn’t mean God is not moving. He is constantly rearranging things in the unseen on our behalf. Often changing “lights”, creating “stop” signs, and directing us into traffic jams, for our benefit. Many times, in hind sight, I can see how He kept me from falling into a trap of the the enemy because He redirected my steps. How loving, how annoying. 😉
No matter how annoying the waiting, afterwards I always seem to walk, drive, run past those could be hindrances without even knowing they were there. There also seems to be this incredible grace for the times I “pass” the obstacles across a double yellow line and blaze my own trail. But even while speeding God seems to be teaching me to slow down. So thankful His grace is faster than my sin.
His speedy grace has also been sufficient in times of waiting. Those l o n g seasons of waiting where I am stuck in traffic and about to run out of gas with no gas exit in sight. When my engine seems to be run on tears and questions. Even here His grace waits with me. I use this traffic analogy because it’s simple and anyone with a license can probably relate. As well as the fact that I love road trips, and recently took one filled with traffic jams and gas worries. But honestly sometimes life takes on a much more serious note than traffic jams and gasless engines. Sometimes it’s not the vehicles we are driving it is our own bodies racked with disease, or a family member or friend’s death. Perhaps it is relentless depression and hopelessness, or simply an unrelenting temptation that seems to follow you everywhere. Fill in the blank. Ask yourself, this ________ makes me feel lost, depressed, frustrated, fearful, or all of the above plus some.
We all have something the enemy has introduced trying to keep us from our final destination. Trying too keep us from truly enjoying and becoming everything we were meant to be in between opportunities. Often we are tempted to give up, to leave our “car” by the side of the road, make camp, and just try to survive the between. But how do you know that a gas station isn’t right around the corner? Or even five miles ahead? The reality is, the closer you get to your destiny the harder the enemy will try to thwart you. Traffic jams, flat tires, depression, anger, frustrated dreams, you name it. He has come to rob you of your destiny. God dreamed you into existence. You were God’s dream. And God gave you the ability to dream too, because He has something for you to dream into existence. Something to help establish His presence on Earth as it is in Heaven.
So the enemy comes with his bribes. Offering you a small percentage of your dream in return for your surrender. This is when the question becomes, “Are your dreams for sale?”
DO NOT SETTLE FOR 30% OF YOUR DREAM WHEN 100% IS AHEAD OF YOU.
Do not be discouraged by the world for they can only speak from their own discouraged hearts. From the bitterness of knowing they sold their dreams and need to be comforted by convincing you to sell yours too. Keep moving, keep driving, keep dreaming. For the world belongs to dreamers like you. Why do you think the enemy fights so hard to steal your dreams? Because He knows dreams lead to hope. And hope will conquer the world.
Don’t settle, your dream is ahead of you.
An Open Door 