giving up the wheel.....

On Monday I told about the couple from our class that hydroplaned on their way to church, and the song on the radio was Carrie Underwood's "Jesus Take the Wheel". Why is it that we sometimes wait until we're out of control before we hand over the keys?

It's pretty easy to forget where your blessings come from when things are going well. But when things turn sour and life is hard, that's when we're ready to get things right. It's almost like we have this Santa Claus mentality, only communicating with God when we want something. (And when I say "we" I'm pointing back at myself.)

God wants us to talk to Him, but not just when things are bad or when we want something. He wants a relationship with us. And just like in relationships we have with other people, you're going to have the good and the bad. That relationship isn't always going to be fun. Sometimes it will be downright confusing. There are times you just have to trust that whatever road you're on is going to get you where you need to be.

I have a friend who just recently lost his job. He's one of the strongest Christian men I've ever met. He's also one of those guys whose relationship with God is constant and genuine. Over the past week he's had people come up to him and say that this is probably for the best, and that God's got a plan for him. Even though he knows all this, it doesn't make him feel any better. And frankly he's tired of hearing people tell him this. Because pain still hurts.

What's so impressive about this guy is his positive attitude through it all. Is he ticked off? Sure, but he knows deep down (and some days it's way deep down) that God is in fact leading him through this journey. Trust makes unknown destinations a little more tolerable.....