I’m not sure if your car has this feature, but I’ve noticed a strange phenomenon in all the vehicles I own. On the left side of the center console, everything feels safe and manageable. However, on the right side, it seems like everything is out of control: objects appear closer and move faster, the brakes don’t respond as expected, and in short, the vehicle becomes a deathtrap.
Some might blame the driver for this, but many passengers report experiencing the same issues. There’s something that changes whenever you sit in the passenger seat. Being a passenger requires trust. When you’re driving, you feel secure and ready for whatever comes your way. But when you’re in the passenger seat, the brake lights in front of you seem to pop up out of nowhere, and the driver appears to be going too fast.
This phenomenon intensifies in traffic or during bad weather. On a straight road through the plains, the passenger may feel safe enough to doze off, but that sense of safety fades during rush hour in the city. This situation reflects our relationship with God. In moments when everything is smooth sailing, trusting our Creator feels easy; it’s when we start to feel out of control that we want to hit the brakes, grab the wheel, and take charge ourselves.
In Psalm 31, David expresses his concerns about the course of his life. He feels that things are spiraling out of control. In his distress, he cries out to God, and as he searches for His goodness, he records this answer:
Psalm 31:21-24: “Blessed be the LORD, for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me when I was in a besieged city. I had said in my alarm, ‘I am cut off from your sight.’ But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy when I cried to you for help. Love the LORD, all you his saints! The LORD preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride. Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD!”
In times of alarm and worry, we may feel as though God is absent. Yet, He hears us and remains in control. David cautions us against living in pride, as those who do are often like backseat drivers, mistakenly believing they know better than God. God preserves those who wait for Him and remain faithful to the Author and Creator of life.
Being a passenger can be challenging. It often feels frightening and chaotic. However, my life improves when I allow God to take the wheel. When I seek His guidance and trust in His abilities, I can even find rest. As we navigate through life, let’s try to relinquish the constant need to be in control and allow God to drive.