Last week we took a family trip to New York City. And since we had a rental car, we figured what the heck? Let’s drive in the city.

Never. Again.

Don’t get me wrong. We consider ourselves experienced city drivers. In fact, we’ve comfortably driven in the biggest cities of America; places like Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Atlanta, Boston, Miami, etc. But nothing compares to the stressful traffic of NYC.

I don’t know if you’ve ever sat behind the wheel in the Big Apple but let me tell you: worst traffic ever. Just when you think you know where you’re going – SURPRISE! A taxi just cut you off. Oh wait…someone is literally parked in your driving lane…while traffic is still moving. Not to mention the stream of pedestrians playing Frogger inches from your bumper. Suddenly, GPS can’t figure out where the heck you are. And what’s that? My left turn dead ends into a pile of orange cones and construction equipment? Where am I even going?? This is getting ridiculous! Not to mention stressful.

And I wasn’t even the one driving.

No, I was in the passenger seat; sweating bullets trying to navigate and call out directions while my husband was busy dodging bikers, buses, and tourists. In that moment, I would have given anything to sit in the backseat instead of fretting in the front holding my breath and – oh crap – did we just miss our exit??

And then it dawned on me.

This is my life. And it might be yours too.

Navigating the Road of Life is a lot like driving in New York City. It’s unpredictable. Stressful. Full of obstacles, twists and turns. One minute you think you’re on the best calculated route, and then suddenly find yourself in a construction zone. Or heaven forbid, rush hour.

Maybe like me, you’ve been experiencing some roadblocks lately.

You thought you’d be married by now. You didn’t get that promotion you worked so hard for. You thought your job was secure but now it’s gone. You lost a family member when you thought you’d have more time. Your best friend moves away. You long for children but your arms remain empty. You can’t seem to get ahead of your debt, no matter how hard you work to save. You weren’t expecting to start over. You thought these were your best years. Life wasn’t supposed to be like this.

When our road in life gets bumpy, it stirs up all kinds of emotions. Confusion. Discouragement. Fear. Anxiety. Frustration. Road rage? Anyone? Sometimes the journey is so full of potholes it feels like you’re just trying to hang on for dear life.

My trip to New York taught me something about my journey with Jesus.

During our sightseeing in New York, we decided to give our legs a break and took an Uber to the south side of Manhattan. The drive couldn’t have been more drastically different! For 20 minutes, I breathed in the beautiful sites around me. The budding trees. The neighborhood kids playing soccer. The white caps of the Atlantic. Bikers enjoying some fresh air. Dog walkers, runners, and tour groups taking advantage of the spring day. I soaked in the sun and sang to the tunes softly playing on the radio. My cousin napped in the backseat. It was peaceful. Relaxing. Enjoyable. A refreshing change of pace.

But in reality, the pace hadn’t actually changed. We were still in a car. On the same streets. In New York City traffic. Our surroundings were the same, but our Uber ride stood in stark contrast to our prior one. One left me frantic, anxious, and frustrated. The other created peace and joy. What made the difference?

We weren’t the ones driving.

We were in the backseat, along for the ride. We fully trusted that our Uber driver would get us where we needed to go. After all, he’s a local. He’s familiar with the streets. He knows where he’s going. We could relax, fully confident in his ability to get us there.

My trip to New York taught me something about my journey with Jesus.

When I stop trying to control my destination, I worry and stress less. When I remember that God is the one driving, I am less flustered by the roadblocks of life. I don’t have to fear I’ll make the wrong turn or miss my exit. I don’t even have to navigate. I can just relax. And you know the amazing thing? When I’m not concerned about driving, I see my surroundings differently. When I remember that God’s the one planning the route and making the turns, it frees me up to just enjoy the ride. Even in rush hour. Even when things don’t go as planned. Even in the construction zone of life.

When I remember that God is the one driving, I am less flustered by the roadblocks of life. He knows the best route, even if it’s not always the most direct.

God is our GPS. From His global position, He sees all the possible routes. His directions are not defective. He never gets lost. His map is always updated. Though I may not always know where we’re going, I can trust Him to get me there in one piece. He knows the best route, even if it’s not always the most direct. He is not stressed or overwhelmed, but fully capable and in control. He will gently and successfully guide us through every twist and turn we encounter.

So when life gets bumpy and you feel lost, when you have no clue how to get back on track – let God drive your Uber. Because you’re not really driving anyway. Don’t be a backseat driver. Instead of fretting about the detours and roadblocks, relax. God’s got this. The route He takes you on will always be the right one. Trust Him, sit back, and enjoy the ride.

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. Prov 3:5-6

Who is the man who fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the way he should choose. Psalm 25:12