Through this writing piece, I am going to try to answer two important questions that I ask myself fairly often. The first is, “Why do I love driving?” and the second is, “When do I feel closest to God?” Just by reading that, I’m fairly certain that you know where I am going with this.

I didn’t start driving until I was 18 years old. This was because, in South Africa, that was the age that you had to be to get your license. I didn’t particularly want my license at the time. I was afraid of driving and I figured that I wouldn’t need to, what with all the public transportation we have. I eventually got my license, after moving to the United States. There were a few experiences that shook me, early in my driving. It made me never want to touch the steering wheel of a car again… but I had to. So I kept going, with fear trying to guide me from the passenger’s seat.

This past summer, my life was changed. I realized that the relationship I had with God was not enough and that it needed to change. Prayer became a constant activity and reading my Bible changed from a chore to a study session. It became something that I needed so that I could learn more about this God that I loved so much. With this change in my spiritual life there came a dramatic change in my attitude about driving. I began to look for a chance to drive as often as I could. Luckily, my friend (now girlfriend), Maddie lives far enough away that I have a fairly long drive to see her and close enough that it is excusable to visit her as long as God provides me with the opportunity.

My car is twenty five years old. It’s reaching the end of its life and because of this, I often find myself praying for it. When I get in and start the engine. When it makes an interesting sound while I’m driving along the freeway. When I finally reach my destination, wherever that is. These circumstances bring me into a communion with God. I find myself praising Him in song and thanking Him for His blessings that He’s given me. These blessings include the car and many other gifts that I could not even begin to take credit for.

When I’m traveling in my car for an extended period of time, I find myself in complete trust of God. Proverbs 3:5-6 is never far from my mind, in fact, I have it memorized and often find myself saying it without realizing. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight.” I know my own driving, I know my faults and the things that I am good at. I trust God with those doubts. I submit these things to Him when I climb into the driver’s seat of a car and grab the steering wheel. Not only do I trust God to guide my own hands as I drive, I trust that God guides the hands and hearts of the drivers around me. And He does it! I know this because I have experienced it. There have been a few times that I’ve had close calls that, had it not been for the timing, could’ve ended very differently. But, as you can see, I am safe and protected from the very real dangers around me. All thanks to my great God.

This is why I love being in my car. I get to spend hours upon hours with my Hero, my Father and my Savior. Now I feel Him, not just in the passenger’s seat, but all through out my car when I drive. I am no longer led astray by fear. Driving has become a form of worship for me that I could not replace with anything. I am so grateful that He is with me. I cannot wait for the next time that I can sit in my car and pray to Him, feel His presence and worship His incredible power.

Thank you God, for promising to always be with me. For guiding my actions and for promising an eternity with you someday. I am so thankful for your presence when I drive and I pray that you would help others to realize that you are there for them as well. Help us be like you, as best we can, and further you Kingdom come. Thank you, Father. Amen.