After driving away from the rental car lot, my sedan started to shake. My grip tightened on the steering wheel. Had they given me a defective vehicle? Then the car steadied, and I continued on my way.
The next day, the same vibrations returned. I checked to see if I was hydroplaning, but the asphalt was dry. Finally, I figured it out. A safety feature shook the sedan when I crossed the dividing lines. From then on, I focused on the road to ensure I drove within my lane.
When I was young, my family instilled in me the importance of not veering from the road. Whenever my mom saw a driver straddling two lanes, she said, “Pick a lane.”
In the same way that we must stay in one lane for our well-being while driving, we must choose our direction in life. Though sometimes difficult, we must remain within the lines of the straight and narrow road. God doesn’t seek to confine us but to shield us from the sorrows that come when we get off His path.
This verse reminds us to hold unswervingly to our hope in Christ. If we always remain alert, we won’t stray. God will get us to where He wants us to go when we fix our eyes on Him. He is faithful in keeping His promises and leading us into abundant life.
Let’s not assume our vehicles have issues; instead, we should look for driver errors. Likewise, may we listen to God’s warnings when our lives quake. If you have moved outside His lanes of protection, obey His Word and return to the path of peace. God will enable you to remain diligent and stay on His road of righteousness.
Joanna Eccles recently founded www.wordsfromthehoneycomb.com to encourage people to grow in Christ. She desires to shape culture by addressing truths in relatable ways. Joanna has led Bible studies for over ten years and completed the year-long C.S. Lewis Fellows Program. She lives in Virginia and loves coffee and traveling.