Guy Reams (00:00.942)
This is day 165, Jesus Take the Wheel. A few years ago, there was a popular song by Carrie Underwood called Jesus Take the Wheel. The story of the song is about a young single mother driving back home with her small child buckled safely in the back seat. She's at the end of a road heading home to seek help from her parents. It's a dark night, the roads are icy and one terrifying
terrifying moment, her car begins to slide on the ice, spinning towards a ditch. She glances in the rear-view mirror and sees her precious child sleeping peacefully. That's when she throws up her hands and says, Jesus take the wheel. Now I recognize there's a deeper meaning here. It's not just about a car losing control. It's about her life spinning out as well. The hope in that moment isn't just that Jesus will save her from the immediate danger.
that he will also help her through the larger crisis she is facing. I used to make fun of this song when I heard it. I thought, how stupid is that, to throw your hands up while sliding on black ice? Maybe God will help you, maybe he won't, but at least try to save yourself. That was my thought at the time, and the source of my ridicule. But then one day, a woman pulled up next to me in a red light, and that song was playing on her stereo. Her window was down.
She had her head resting in her hand as she waited for the light to turn green. She was crying and singing along with the song. I could feel the powerful emotion of that moment. I realized she might be at the end of her rope, and this song, this prayer, was reaching into her soul and giving her just enough hope to keep going. What is this emotion? This urge to surrender to divine providence. The psalmist says, be still and know that I am God.
That spiritual act of surrender in times of deep pain, sorrow, fear, or helplessness should not be dismissed as foolish. Something powerful is happening here, and we'd be wise to pause and reflect on it. When we need it the most, should we put our trust in God? Should we let go of our stress over the outcome or our own expectations, our illusion of control, and instead trust in something unseen?
Guy Reams (02:18.456)
Contrary to my initial reaction to Miss Underwood's song, this concept of surrender is not passive resignation. It's an active and very real spiritual coping mechanism. Through this act, people are releasing their desperate grip on control. We like to believe that we have control over everything in our lives, but the truth is we just don't. And sometimes it's only through great difficulty that we come to face that reality. What do we do when the pressure is so great?
the consequences so severe that we feel crushed under the burden. We need a way to escape that pressure, to transfer the weight from ourselves. How else could we hope for peace? How could we feel comfort when there is nothing comforting in our circumstances? And yet, peace is accessible, even when our circumstances don't change. That's the beauty and power of knowing you are not alone.
of finding comfort from something or someone you cannot see. People who strengthen this bond, this trust, develop something like a superpower. They can function when all hope is faded. They can persevere when facing an insurmountable foe. They can stare down the very jaws of hell and not flinch. That is tangible, practical, and powerful faith.
When all other sources of help fail, why not? I think that's what the song is really about. And for those of you who are Christian, remember, we are not alone in this. Christians do not have a monopoly on this concept. While the stories of Jesus Christ and his apostles are among the most poignant and applicable examples, other faith traditions echo the same truth. The Hindu Gita, for example, is centered on the idea of surrender.
A way of life that calls for letting go of ego and recognizing one's place in the universe. In my brief exploration, I see this everywhere – Buddhism, Taoism, Judaism, even 12-step programs. All of them elevate surrender as central to faith. It's worth reflecting on how this applies to us. Should we lie to ourselves and pretend we are in control when we're really not?
Guy Reams (04:34.094)
Should we act as if we can withstand every storm and never feel despair? When the helpers flee, when the people and resources you've relied on disappear, what do you have left? That is when you discover what hope and faith really mean. If you've ever been in the shadows, if you've ever felt the depth of sorrow, you already know what I'm talking about. And if you haven't, you're blessed. But I hope you remember reading this because someday you might need it.
And in that moment, you just might cry out unexpectedly, Jesus, take the wheel.