Sweet Release

Have you ever found yourself driving on the highway between orange barrels and a concrete wall in the middle of a hard rain that makes visibility seem barley possible while some other driver is is being reckless?  I have.  In that experience, I find myself gripping the steering wheel tightly, straining my eyes to see and praying that I stay alert and careful. I can feel all of my muscles tightening as I drive in those unfavorable conditions.  And then, just when I think I am wound so tight I can take no more, the construction ends, the rain stops and the crazy driver speeds away.  And when that happens, I can physically feel all my muscles begin to relax.  My grip loosens.  My breathing becomes soothing.  My eyes no longer feel strained.  O, yes, that is a sweet release of stress and tension. 

I have a feeling there are a whole lot of people walking around gripping the steering wheel of life in the same fashion. Most of us, don't even realize we are doing so, but those who know us best can sure see it. Strained, stressed, tense people have a way of being irritable, worried and even afraid.  Not exactly qualities that make life fun for the person gripping the wheel or those riding with them. 

On Sunday night, I experienced a sweet release from God.  I have been wrestling in prayer over a particular concern for several months.  On Sunday night, God revealed to me that I was gripping the steering wheel as though I was in the drivers seat.  He made it clear that even my prayers were my attempt to be in control.  I asked why I was doing that and he showed me it was fear-based.  With that truth I went to a place of prayer with many others and I let go of this particular steering wheel. I put it in his hands.  And God, in all his love and mercy, broke through all my callousness of fear. 

When I got up from prayer, I could physically feel months worth of gripping leave my body as I rested in his hands. 

May be you are feeling the same way as I was? Today I invite you to fall before him.  Ask him why you are gripping the wheel so tightly?  Put that which has you strained, stressed and afraid in his hands.  And then...this is so good...experience his sweet release.