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Are You Stalled?

By Robin May

Published: July 07, 2010

At the beginning of this year, many of us took some time to write out our plans for 2010 and beyond. A new millennium seems to be the perfect time to really pray about your strategic life plan and “write the vision and make it plain” (Habakkuk 2:2). Did you declare that this year was going to be different? Did you promise yourself that you were going to finish what you started? Did you ask God to direct your steps as you walk in destiny? If so, then now is the best time to take some time to review your goals in order to assess your progress. But before you do, allow me to share this story with you:

Several years ago my husband and I purchased a new car and it was a manual vehicle (stick shift). My husband knew how to drive one and started the process of teaching me. We have a pretty good routine when we stay in the ‘husband / wife’ role, but the ‘teacher / student’ role causes us some challenges so pray for us.

Anyway…as my “stick shift” teacher, my husband, was trying to get me over my fear of actually being on the road with other cars. When I was in the parking lot, with no other moving vehicles around, I did a great job. As a matter of fact, I got a little cocky.

But as soon as he challenged me to move out of the parking lot onto the actual street I was terrified. What if I forgot how to change gears? What if the stick got stuck? What if I froze and the car stopped, and I ended up getting killed? What would my daughters do without a mother? How long would it take before my husband got married and began to teach someone else how to drive the car? (Okay…maybe that last part went a little far, but that’s how our fears work. They take us on a crazy journey of irrationality.)

Back to my driving lesson. Ignoring all of the fears that I was voicing to him, my husband, turned stick-shift bully, wouldn’t let me stay in the parking lot. He said “Robin! If you are going to get over your fear you have to move from where you are! You have to get out of the parking lot and get in the traffic!”

So I decided to be the submissive wife or student in this case. I tried it. I cautiously moved from the parking lot onto the street and I actually made it to the light. But when the light turned green and it was time to drive off, guess what happened…

Yep, I stalled.

I couldn’t believe it. Well, actually I could believe it. Just what I feared was going to happen, happened. There were cars behind me honking, my husband was trying to give me instructions and I was yelling for everyone to leave me alone. It was actually a very traumatic experience.

As I think about my stick-shift training, I can relate it directly to my attempts to live my life in a way that truly glorifies God and moves me forward in my destiny.

I have people, especially Mr. Stick-shift teacher, encouraging me to get out of the parking lot and actually get ‘on the road’…get on the road and actually start doing something with the vision God has given me. My family, my pastor, my friends all encourage me to ‘get out into the traffic.’

But just like with driving a stick, I have all of these fears when it comes to walking in my destiny. What if I can’t do it? What if mess up? What if I become a public success but a private failure? What if my husband and children lose all respect for me and my efforts are in vain? (Again…maybe the last one went a little far, but you get my point).

Back to my driving lesson. Remember, I was at the light with people blowing at me and my husband yelling instructions that I couldn’t follow? Well, eventually I took a deep breath…gathered up some courage…and tried again. And it worked. I was able to actually get from the light to my house without dying. And my daughters still have their mommy.

And I learned a very valuable life lesson. The same thing that happened while learning how to drive the stick-shift is the same thing that can happen in my walk with God and in my purpose. As long as I move past my fears, God will order my steps. Even if I reach a point where I stall…I can take a deep breath…gather up some courage…and try again.

One of my favorite scriptures, Philippians 2:13, says that “…it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” Isn’t that encouraging? God has activated His power within us to give us the desire and the ability to do what He has for us to do!

As you look back over the first half of this new millennium, maybe you aren’t satisfied with what you see. Or maybe you are, but you know you have so much more to do. Regardless of your current state, I want to encourage you to keep moving. And if you stall…take a deep breath, remember that it is God working in you and get going again.

Hope to see you on the road…Honk the horn if you see me!

© Robin May. All rights reserved.

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