While I was at Walla Walla, I worked at the Center for Humanitarian Engagement. This was a student-based team focused on engaging WWU students in local service opportunities and initiatives. I had started working there at the beginning of the school year. As each month went by I grew closer to the staff and soon there was a real sense of family within the team. When Christmas season arrived, we celebrated together with a party and dinner. We went to a restaurant in downtown Walla Walla, sharing stories and engaging in good laughter. We had all carpooled in different vehicles. As we said our goodbyes and began to leave, a random stranger walked through us, opened my friend's door to his car, sat in the back seats, and locked the car. As you can imagine we were all a bit confused and shook up. We talked with her and, after a long time, convinced her to get out of the car.
It was so surprising, so out-of-the-norm, so circumstantially changing. Now, months later, I still think about that incident. I think to myself, "What if, when God tries to enter our lives, all we do is try to convince Him to get out"?
In John 15:5 it says, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit". We all want to stay connected to the Vine, we all want the Presence of God, it's in our nature as human beings created by God. So what is it that, at times, makes us think that we should pull God out of the "car"?
1. Control over Uncertainty
Do you ever try and control everything? I do sometimes, especially in my walk with God. I know that sounds crazy, but I'm sure I'm not the only one. When God takes control of our worries and fears, we have to let go of control and let God handle it all. Sometimes, we get so obsessed with the control, that it's more important to us than God and we convince Him to "get out of our car".
2. Distractions
Do you ever feel so good and spiritually connected that you hit a "high" with God, but then forget Who even brought you to that place? Satan uses distractions in our lives to make us create idols out of anything and everything. Phones, media, errands, workouts, "me-time", have-to's, sports, just to name a few. Thus, we kick God out of our lives.
3. More Room
I struggle with space and maybe you do too. As soon as I give God the go-ahead in my life to make a change and bring me restoration, I feel as if I'm in another episode of Extreme Home Makeover. But, instead of shouting "move that bus" to a new creation, I ask for my old space back and for God to put down the hammer in my life.
4. Not Enough Time
In my life, I say "there's not enough time" constantly. As a result of the society we live in, I imagine you do the same. We are hurried people and say "I'm too busy for a devotional", or "I have a meeting, I can't have a time of prayer right now". This cycle, sooner or later, pushes God out of our lives and throws us into the depths of this world.
Here is my prayer for you:
That the Spirit of God may be with you and may guide your steps. That you may let go of control and let God take your fears, your anxiety, and your doubts. That you can keep a focus on God and His purpose for you in this world. That you back up, and make room for God in your life, and make God a priority over anything else in your life. When God jumps into your car, don't ask Him to leave, but rather jump into the driver's seat and ask "Where to now"?
—Mitchell Powers