Still at the Wheel…
Still at the Wheel
The storm came faster than anyone expected. One moment the sky was a dull gray, the next it was bruised purple, heavy with rain and wind. Sheets of water slammed against the windshield as Daniel tightened his grip on the steering wheel. The wipers struggled, squeaking in protest as they pushed back the rain only long enough for him to see a few feet ahead. Thunder cracked so loudly it rattled his chest.
Daniel was driving to church. He almost laughed at the irony. If he had stayed home, curled up on the couch like he wanted to, he wouldn’t be white-knuckling the wheel on a slick highway, praying the car in front of him wouldn’t suddenly brake. But he had promised himself—no excuses. He needed church today. He needed God.
The week had been relentless. A tense meeting at work, an unexpected bill, a phone call from the doctor that ended with more questions than answers. Daniel felt like his life was spinning just beyond his control, like a car hydroplaning on wet pavement. He believed in God, yes—but believing God was in control felt harder when everything around him felt so uncertain.
A sudden gust of wind shoved the car sideways. Daniel’s heart jumped. He eased off the gas, whispering, “Lord, please.”
Traffic slowed to a crawl. Red brake lights glowed like warning signals through the rain. His hands were trembling now, not just from fear, but from the weight he carried inside. He thought of the prayers he had prayed all week—short, rushed, desperate. God, fix this. God, change that. God, tell me what to do.
But the answers hadn’t come. As the storm intensified, a loud crack echoed overhead. A tree branch fell somewhere ahead, and traffic came to a complete stop. Daniel exhaled sharply. He was stuck. Late. Frustrated. Afraid.
For a moment, he considered turning around. What’s the point? he thought. God already knows I’m tired.
Then he noticed the silence. Not outside—the rain still roared against the car—but inside. The radio had gone quiet. The notifications on his phone were still. For the first time all day, there was nothing demanding his attention.
In that stillness, a thought surfaced, gentle but firm: You don’t have to control this.
Daniel leaned back slightly in his seat. The words felt like a hand resting on his shoulder. “You’re right,” he whispered. “I don’t.”
He realized how tightly he had been holding everything—his plans, his fears, his future—like the steering wheel beneath his palms. Slowly, he loosened his grip. Not on the wheel, but on the need to be in charge of outcomes he couldn’t see.
Traffic began to move again, inch by inch. The storm didn’t stop, but Daniel felt steadier. He drove carefully, attentively, trusting the road would eventually open.
When he finally pulled into the church parking lot, the rain had softened to a steady drizzle. The building stood warm and lit against the dark sky, a quiet refuge. Daniel sat in the car for a moment before getting out.
Inside the sanctuary, the worship had already begun. The congregation sang softly, voices rising together. Daniel slipped into a seat near the back, his clothes damp, his heart strangely light.
The pastor spoke later about storms—not just the ones in the sky, but the ones in life. “Storms remind us,” he said, “that we are not in control—but God is. Our job is not to command the wind, but to trust the One who does.”
Daniel felt his throat tighten. He thought about the drive. The fear. The stillness. He hadn’t gained answers or solutions that morning. The problems waiting for him on Monday hadn’t disappeared. But something deeper had changed. He no longer felt alone behind the wheel.
As the service ended, sunlight broke through the clouds outside, catching the wet pavement and turning it gold. Daniel smiled, a quiet, grateful smile.
Life would bring more storms—he knew that now. There would be days when the road was slick, the visibility low, and the destination uncertain. But he also knew this: Even in the storm, God was still at the wheel.
When life feels out of control and the storms are fierce, remember this truth: God is in control. Our peace doesn’t come from calm roads, but from trusting the One who guides us through every storm.
Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Is God in control of your life? If not there’s no better time than now to start living as if it were your last day on earth. Just take a moment to pray—tell God you believe His Son, Jesus, paid for your sins and rose from the grave. Let Him know you’re sorry and want to live for Him. He will forgive your sins and mistakes, give you eternal life with Him, and place His Spirit deep within your heart. As 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” and Romans 10:9 tells us, ”that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;“
May God Bless… Bob.
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