Let God Take the Driver’s Seat

by Rick Warren — July 5, 2021
From Life's Healing Choices

“Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am.”

Matthew 16:24 (The Message)

The key to stress reduction in your life is to let go and let God. So how do you do this? You make Jesus the manager of your life.

The problem is, we usually want to be the manager of our own lives, and so we argue and disagree with God. We think we know what’s best. The reason you’re under a lot of stress is that you’re constantly fighting God in your mind—“I know God says to do this, but I want to do that instead!”

Every morning when you wake up, you have a decision to make: Who’s going to be in charge of your life? Who’s going to be in control—you or God? Who’s going to call the shots—you or God? Every day, moment-by-moment, you are making this decision. When you choose to make yourself the manager of your own life, it causes conflict, confusion, and stress.

Jesus says in Matthew 16:24, “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; Iam” (The Message). Here’s what Christians tend to do: When we become believers in Christ, we give him the driver’s seat. But then we promptly hop into the backseat and become backseat drivers. We’re constantly giving him advice like, “No, turn this way. Stop. Wait. Faster! I want to go that way. I want to see that sight.”

Many years ago, Kay and I took dancing lessons. The instructor told us one of the biggest problems couples have is letting the other lead. When they’re both trying to lead, they’re stepping on each other’s feet all the time, and it doesn’t look very pretty.

Your life doesn’t look very pretty when you’re trying to help God lead. Instead, let God be God and make Jesus the manager of your life.

Talk It Over

  • What details of your life are most difficult for you to surrender to God?
  • How have you been quarreling with God without saying a word? What do your actions reveal about who is managing your life?
  • Determine today to give God control of the areas of your life where you have concerns and stress. What will that look like? What difference will it make in your life?

Have you trusted Jesus for your salvation?

The Bible says you can only get to heaven by trusting in God through his Son, Jesus Christ—you don’t need to earn God’s love or work your way into heaven. The Bible says, “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV).

If you haven’t trusted in Jesus and committed to following him, why wait any longer? If you’re ready to step across that line and make a decision to believe in Jesus Christ and follow him, pray this prayer:

“Dear Jesus, you have promised that if I believe in you, everything I’ve ever done wrong will be forgiven, I will learn the purpose of my life, and you will accept me into your eternal home in heaven one day.

“I confess my sin, and I believe you are my Savior. You have promised that if I confess my sin and trust you, I will be saved. I trust you when you say that salvation comes by grace, through faith, and not by anything I do. I receive you into my life as my Lord. Today I’m turning over every part of my life to your management. I want you to be in the driver’s seat of my life.

“Jesus, I want to relax in your love. Thank you that I don’t have to earn it or work for it. I want to use the rest of my life to serve you instead of serving myself. I humbly commit my life to you and ask you to save me and accept me into your family. In your name I pray. Amen.”

If you just prayed to accept Jesus, please email me at [email protected] and let me know about it. I’d like to send you some free materials to help you start your journey with Jesus.


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