Jesus Take the Wheel -- Please!!!

I'm home from a quick trip to Tulsa to attend a celebration of a dear 90-year-old friend's life. I thought I knew this man who had blessed me with such kindness over the years, but not until I saw his talents all around the halls and chapel did I come to know I had not delved into WHO he really was. Little did I know he was a renown jazz musician, talented artist, and pioneer in the frozen food business. I only knew him as the developer of the beautiful 55+ Hyde Park community in Tulsa. I loved hearing the speaker say that God had "taken the wheel of his life". I learned that I need to be a friend who cares enough to want to know more about my friends before it's too late.

It was pouring rain most all the way back home yesterday. My sis-in-law, Karen, called and we talked as I drove. She prayed for me: "Jesus, please take the wheel for Donna as she drives home!" I embraced those words because the drive could have been daunting in that pouring-down-rain, but I was completely at peace as I knew Jesus was taking the wheel.

Karen is an amazing and loving care-giver of my almost 97-year-old mother-in-law who can be a hand-full. In addition to the responsibility of mom, Karen and her husband own a highly demanding business that consumes an enormous amount of their time. She remarked: "You know, I often pray 'Jesus take the wheel.'" And I reply: "Oh, yes, I do, too!" I love our relationship because we have each other to vent to when we need a listening ear. We know we are never alone and can talk to God Who is always on our side to give us the super-powers we need to carry on but sometimes we just need Jesus in the "flesh and blood" in our lives. I'm thrilled when we can be that for each other.

At the funeral, I notice a young woman standing off to herself, obviously brokenhearted and weeping. I leave my conversation with friends and go to her, put my arms around her and ask: "Are you okay?" She replies, "He was like a father to me. He always let me sit at his feet and he'd tell me stories. He was so kind to me." I remember how Jesus always had women surrounding Him. He was as a beloved father, brother, friend and great storyteller. Of course they wept when He was no longer with them. This young woman needed Jesus "in the flesh". I was able to be Him in the flesh to her. I say: "Jesus must love you so much -- that out of all the people here today, a gal from Texas shows up, sees you and is nudged by God to come and give you a hug." I ask: "Do you know Him?" She does. I tell her: "Jesus is loving you through me." We sit together at lunch and I see her eyes grow brighter and she is calm and grateful. I tell her to pay it forward now and be the hands and feet of Jesus to others.

Those are times that I know that Jesus takes the wheel from me. When I step away from my agenda and surrender to His plans, He takes control of what matters most. The nudge from God to make this trip was confirmed by so many "Jesus taking the wheel" moments. What an amazing ride it is -- when Jesus takes over and takes the wheel from us. We'll arrive safe and sound......and even have a story to tell of His amazing grace time and time again!

God is Always Reminding Me That He’s Got the Wheel 🚗

God is Always Reminding Me That He’s Got the Wheel 🚗
On Sunday, I made my trek back home to Frisco from Austin. I thought it would be smooth sailing all the way since the traffic would be less on a weekend. I was making good time when passing through Temple, then the traffic came to a snail’s pace as we inched along for miles because of more road construction. That construction has been going on for months, but this day it seemed worse than ever. Occasionally, we were dead stopped. I must look like a race car driver (an impatient one, at that), as I change lanes often to hopefully gain at least a car’s length ahead of the next guy. That delay put me back over 30 minutes on my usual 4-hour trip. After getting back on pace for about 45 minutes to Waco, dear me, there was more stalled traffic backed-up for miles because of an automobile accident up ahead.

An hour later than expected, I made it to my home-sweet-home. As I was unpacking my car, weariness set in. Then, it occurred to me that I had only had four hours of sleep the night before. AND, I never felt any drowsiness or fatigue during that five-hour drive. I know it was the intenseness of navigating through the traffic for that hour that kept me alert and wide awake. I never thought for a minute about that lack of sleep the night before.

Thank you, God, for reminding me, once again, that You’ve Got the wheel – not just of my car, but of my life. I know that God has a plan and if we would just settle in and enjoy the ride, we’ll get to where we need to be in His perfect timing. What if we started analyzing those seemingly annoying times, as being little messages from God that He is working out some things for our good? You know the traffic, the flat tire, misplacing our car keys, left our phone at home and had to turn around, or our child forgot his baseball glove and we had to return home to get it.

How well I remember the stories of people who were delayed going to work at the Twin Towers on the 9/11 bombing that saved their lives and the ones who missed their flight and their life was saved from the airplane crash later.

Maybe today you are experiencing some delays – like a house closing or a medical report or that check-in-the-mail. What if we take a deep breath, turn the wheel over to God and TRUST that “ALL THINGS (literally, ALL THINGS – the good, the bad and the ugly things, including the traffic), are being used by God for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purposes.” (Romans 8:28). God's timing is ALWAYS perfect.