Are you holding the steering wheel too tightly?

This is something which came to mind, when I was thinking about somebody else.
I have since been able to apply this to myself as well.

This is one of those pictures where you could look at it and say, that’s just like….
Hopefully you can read this and ask, how does this apply to me first?
I have needed to hear Father when He has asked me, how does this apply to you.

So, I now give to you…. Are you holding the steering wheel too tightly?

There were five companions going on a long journey, travelling in a car.

One person was doing all the driving.

The driver also needed to work on his laptop and talk to people on his mobile phone, all the time, whilst still driving.

All of the passengers could drive the car but the driver insisted,

“No. It’s O.K., I can do it all.”

It’s probably only going to be a matter of time before the driver and the passengers end up in some sort of trouble.

All the people in the car could, and should share the burden of driving the car.

This would give the current driver time to work on his laptop, answer his mobile or to just take a break and look out of the window and have a rest.

This requires two things.

The driver needs to be able to let go of the steering wheel and let somebody else have a turn at the wheel.

The passengers need to be willing to take hold of the steering wheel.

Are we willing to do our part?

The thing is… when somebody else takes hold of the steering wheel, it then means that they are then in control.
They might drive in a slightly different manner or even take a different route to what was previously being taken.

The question then has to be asked, “Is the new route or driving style wrong?”

Hopefully, as all the people in the car are heading to the same location, the answer will be “No, it isn’t wrong.
It’s just slightly different to how it was previously done.”

Instead of motorways and A roads, country roads might be used instead.
But if the end destination is the same, then we will be heading in the right direction.

Sometimes the journey can be just as important as the final destination.
Who knows what else you can learn if a slightly different route is taken instead of the route you would like to do take?

The other thought I have had when pondering this, is that I am only one person, with one pair of hands.
I can only do the work of one person!
I can’t do it all!

Several people working at something differently to me is better than me trying to take on all things, (just because that’s the way I would like to see things done).

If other people are able to do something, then I can be free to do the work that Father has for me to do.
I just need to hear what it is that Father wants me to do, and leave the rest to Him.

Father,
Please help us to hear You that much more clearly.
Help us to know when it is right for us to take the lead in something and when it is right to allow some else to take the lead.
Help us to have the grace we need in us if we see someone doing something in a way that just grates against us.
Give us the wisdom to know when we need to stand back in order to allow someone else to be all they can in You.
If we are all working to build Your kingdom, then hopefully we will all be heading in the right direction.
You are Lord God Almighty.
Help us all to trust and follow You that much more closely.
Amen.