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It was a tranquil afternoon as my husband and I sped down a country highway on a fall Saturday in his partially restored classic truck. We were headed to spend an evening in a cabin, just the two of us. But that was before the full throttle. 

Suddenly, panic and fear came alive in the truck’s cab as the throttle stuck, and he couldn’t slow us down from sixty miles an hour. His reaction time was fast as he tried gearing down without success. He then tried cutting off the ignition. The truck continued to speed as our hearts raced in our chests. I prayed aloud for our safety.

After what seemed like a lifetime, my husband was able to brake firmly and pull us to the side of the highway. There we were on the side of the road, helpless to those who passed us, needing a hand, and thanking God for our safety. Through a series of God’s handiwork, we made it safely to our destination and home.

Our lives on this earth can quickly become like the wide-open throttle on a classic truck. We go about our lives at lightning speed without the ability to slow down. We long to pull to the side of the road, but nothing works. God’s hand protected us and cleared the way ahead that day. Without His protection, the results could have been tragic.

While we couldn’t be still physically, as the psalmist instructs, those moments remind me to rely on God fully, no matter how fast we travel. I am also reminded that the wide-open throttle is not God’s design. He longs for us to digest life with thanksgiving and embrace His goodness.

Busy schedules and too many obligations leave us panicked and fearful. God wants us to be cautious and careful with our obligations to be effective for His kingdom. He wants us to travel safely with power over the brakes and control over our vehicle. There is undoubtedly a time to drive and a time to stop.

If your gas pedal is stuck or you are traveling too fast without control over your vessel, remember this: Jesus is the only one who can guide you through the turns in the road ahead.