On a Road Trip With The Lord

Have you ever taken a road trip with family or friends? My family and I thoroughly enjoy taking road trips. One particular trip sticks out in my memory. In April, I went to see the play Daniel in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. My daughter, her husband, and two of my grandchildren were with me. At first, everything was going smoothly. The children were settled in the back seats with their iPads, engrossed in their games. But, after two hours on the road, restlessness set in, and they began to protest by pestering my daughter with questions like “Are we there yet?” and “What is taking so long?” Their frustration was so great that they decided the trip was boring and unenjoyable.

They even had second thoughts about attending the show. Seeing their growing annoyance, my son-in-law, who was driving, felt discouraged and unappreciated. He complained to my daughter about how frustrated he was, wondering why they were even going, and thought about going back home. Seeing that he was upset, my daughter gently put her hands on his hand and reassured him that she would handle the problem. She whispered to him how important it would be once they arrived at their destination.  She then turned to face the children and spoke to them with love and understanding. She told them that if they listened and behaved, they were going to have an incredible journey. But they needed to trust them and stay calm until they arrived at their destination, and they would have the most amazing day. Even though they were eager to reach their destination, they stopped complaining and settled down.

This anecdote should serve as a powerful reminder to Christians. At times, God guides us down paths we may not initially embrace. In response, we may find ourselves complaining and whining, forgetting that God—not us—is the ultimate driver. Like my son-in-law, God the Father may feel underappreciated when He leads us down paths we don’t want to go. Or, like the kids, we may be excited at first, but impatience and complaints may surface as time goes on and there’s no obvious destination in sight.

Like a devoted parent, Jesus intervenes on our behalf before the Father, lovingly reminding Him, “It’s okay. I died for them. They are mine. I’ve got this.” This image beautifully illustrates what Jesus has done for every one of us. He took our place on the cross and died for all our sins. Now, He sits at the Father’s right hand, advocating for each of us.

I recall the story of the Israelites wandering in the desert for forty years. The Lord gave Moses the Ten Commandments as guidelines to follow. But like kids on a road trip, while Moses was on the mountain receiving the commandments from God, the Israelites were growing restless, doubtful, and complaining about the manna God provided and their difficult life in the wilderness.

They chose to completely forget the harsh and painful period they endured in Egypt as slaves and built a calf made out of gold and began to worship it. Like children, they were ungrateful and forgot all that God had delivered them from.  All they wanted to do was to gratify the desires of their flesh. They were not satisfied with what God was doing; they wanted more, and they wanted it on their terms.

Friends, are we not like children or even like the Israelites? Do we not behave similarly? Do we not easily forget God’s past blessings and instead complain about the challenges we are facing? Thankfully, God does not treat us as we deserve. He is a loving and patient Father. In the same way, that a loving parent corrects their child, God corrects His children in order to lead them back to the right path. (Hebrews 12:6-11) Even when we stray, God is always there to guide and help us. (Proverbs 3:5-6) He always wants to bring us back into a loving relationship with Him. We need to trust in God’s plan, even when the path seems challenging. Look beyond your struggles and focus on Him. Allow the Holy Spirit to strengthen and guide you. Remind yourself that nothing happens by accident, and you are not alone. God still sits on the throne, and everything is under His control.

 Here are some words to nourish your soul:

• How can you and I continue to abide in God’s presence and His Word when things are not going as planned?
• What life lessons can we learn from the Israelites and even ourselves during our road trip or journey through life?
• What life lessons can we learn from Moses if we want to see God face-to-face and reach our final destination?
• What lessons can we learn about waiting on God, not our strength and understanding?

 

Prayer

Almighty and merciful Father, who is holy, kind, and overflowing with love, I thank You for the powerful reminder that we must strive to remain holy, just as You are holy, for Your glory. I ask for the strength to abide in You alone, turning away from the fleeting offerings of this world. I believe that Your Word, faithfulness, and kindness endure, and I am determined to fix my eyes on You, seeing myself as a finished product through Your eyes. I trust that despite my shortcomings, You have called and equipped me for Your purpose. May Your light guide me like a lamp in the darkness and a pillar of fire at night. I am confident that Your presence will lead me while I run my race. In Jesus’ precious name, amen.

 

Reference:

Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.