~ Jesus Take the Wheel ~

She was driving last Friday on her way to Cincinnati
On a snow white Christmas Eve
Going home to see her Mama and her Daddy with the baby in the backseat
Fifty miles to go and she was running low on faith and gasoline
It'd been a long hard year
She had a lot on her mind and she didn't pay attention
She was going way to fast
Before she knew it she was spinning on a thin black sheet of glass
She saw both their lives flash before her eyes
She didn't even have time to cry
She was sooo scared
She threw her hands up in the air

Jesus take the wheel
Take it from my hands
'Cause I can't do this on my own
I'm letting go
So give me one more chance
To save me from this road I'm on
Jesus take the wheel

It was still getting colder when she made it to the shoulder
And the car came to a stop
She cried when she saw that baby in the backseat sleeping like a rock
And for the first time in a long time
She bowed her head to pray
She said I'm sorry for the wayI've been living my life
I know I've got to change
So from now on tonight

Jesus take the wheel
Take it from my hands'
Cause I can't do this on my own
I'm letting go
So give me one more chance
To save me from this road I'm on
Oh, Jesus take the wheel
Oh, I'm letting go
So give me one more chance
Save me from this road I'm on
Jesus take the wheel
Oh, take it, take it from me
~Jesus Take the Wheel lyrics sung by Carrie Underwood

I know my last post was about a song, but, I can't help myself on this one, so, please be patient, maybe the next one won't be about a song :)

As I waited for my son to come out of the store, Jesus Take the Wheel, sung by Carrie Underwood, was on the radio. And, as it played it humbled me, and, brought tears to my eyes. How often do I take the wheel back from Him.....and, it is usually when the very last one who should be in control is me.

Over and over I think I can do this short road without Him, or, well, this path is easy, I don't think I need to cover it in prayer, or just, quite frankly, believe He has absolutely no clue what He is doing, and, should go this one on my own. Oh how wrong I am!

Over the last year I have learned that this life is impossible without putting my trust in Him. I have learned what it is to be stripped to my very core of everything I thought to be foundationally sound in my life. I have been at that point that I felt so devestated in my soul and unsure I could even breath let alone function as a mother, child, wife, and friend.

There are times in our lives when circumstances, whether they be of our own making or someone elses', bring us to such a deep level of grief, frustration and desperation that we are not sure how to take the next step - and, maybe not sure if we even want to. BUT, it is at those times, when all we have left is Him, that His potter's hands can mold us and make us what He created us to be.

So, how do you live through those times? You let Him take the wheel. He doesn't ask us to know what the next step is. He doesn't ask us, or even want us, to know where tomorrow's turn is. Throughout the last year I have described it this way to people who asked how I was doing.....

I have learned to envision myself crawling on His lap ~ to be held by Him. As I drove down the freeway sobbing so hard I could hardly breath, I stopped, and made myself crawl up on His lap to let His gentle, beautiful, nail-scarred hands hold me. As I sat in church crying so much I know the person behind me was thinking 'get a kleenex' :) , I had to give up the wheel and crawl up on His lap. He has taught me to stay there, it is the only safe place in this world.

And, as I learn to take His hand and only look at the next stone to step on, not forward, not behind, I have found such a beautiful place of peace and grace that, oddly enough, I would not have traded the situation that taught me to completley trust in Him for anything in the world.

While I know He has earthquake victims to care for, and innocent children to save - He will be there for us as well. His word promises that:

The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the earth, He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary, and increases the power of the weak. Isaiah 40:28-29

So, let Him take your wheel, where ever you think it is headed. I promise, over and over again that He will steer you where He knows you need to go. Even if you don't feel like He knows what He is doing, trust Him. He will be your rock and fortress and deliverer - His word promises that too.

The Lord is my rock, my fortress, my deliverer; My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the strength of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2

So, thanks Carrie, I know you will touch thousands of lives with your song.

And, please, let Jesus take your wheel.