I was driving home from out of town the other evening. It was raining a little and had gotten dark. As I continued on, it began to rain harder, pour even, as if someone was standing on top of my car slinging buckets of water. Now, the visibility wasn’t amazing, okay, it was terrible, but I could still see well enough to make it. I could see car lights up ahead and as I got closer, I noticed that they were all in the right lane, following each other. I am sure they all felt if they could see the lights in front of them, it would be a safer drive.
So, I fell in line, right behind the last car.
After a couple of minutes, I realized that we weren’t really moving and I decided that I would get over in the left lane and just take my chances. It only took about 5 minutes before I was ahead of the long line of cars and semi-trucks, and probably another 10 minutes before I could no longer see them in my rearview mirror at all. They were still following each other, making it safe along their way.
Follow God Every Step Towards Your Destination
Although my visibility wasn’t superb, it was good enough for me to get over into my own lane and make it through the rain. Yes, it made me think. I know those drivers weren’t necessarily afraid, but cautious.
In life though, it translates differently, and we tend to follow behind others out of fear. That left lane looks pretty scary when you can’t perfectly see what is in front of you. Those buckets of rain make you feel as if you could drown.
So, what do you do? You stay to the right, where you can see those brake lights ahead. I am not saying that your way is wrong, but I am saying that moving in fear will keep you in the back of a moving line that isn’t even going where you’re meant to go.
So, What’s the Play Call?
Moving into your own lane can present some unexpected roadblocks and some buckets of rain, but keep going. You see, where you are destined to go will require you to drift off on your own and into an empty lane.
There may even be a time or two when you look in that rearview mirror and see the line you left behind. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you consider drifting into the left lane:
- Know you were destined to be different. That means you don’t always belong in the same lane as everyone else; your lane may even be going in the opposite direction. “For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God, and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.” Deuteronomy 14:2
- Following Christ will get you where you need to be. Those cars in the right lane will get you nowhere if their lane isn’t the one you should be in. Your best bet is to move on over. “For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me.” Psalms 31:3
- Do not be afraid of where God is taking you. I could have allowed the intensity of the rain to frighten me and I could have stayed behind that line of cars; that would have also taken me an extra hour to get home. Do not be delayed because you refuse to get over. “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Isaiah 41:10
- You got this. You even prayed for it. Remember? God created that lane just for you, so He intends for you to travel it. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13
As you move on in life, please don’t let the pouring rain scare you into a slow, packed lane that was never meant for you. God will lead and cover you.
