As the sun broke through the hotel curtains in Cabo, I stretched and rolled out of bed. Excitement stirred as we were headed to the Mexican coastal desert to go 4-wheeling. The dusty red dirt would be far cry from the beautiful marine blue waters we were out on the day before fishing for marlins.
The contrast of the two landscapes seemed to represent the drastic difference in my life over the last few years. One year being full of life to suddenly the next feeling dry and barren.
The outdoors are where I connect to God the easiest. The creations, smells, and fresh air rip freedom clear through my insides to meet my bones. It’s easy for me to sense God in places as this and to sense his power.
Do you struggle to hear the voice of God? Do you wish to hear God speak to you in your everyday life? God’s Many Voices, a newly released book written by a dear friend, will help you discover a God who is infinitely closer and more involved in our world than we give Him credit for. I met Liz on Harvester Island, a small island off Kodiak Island, and she’s the real deal. You can order her book by clicking here.
After a forty-five minute van ride we arrive at our adventure spot.
Once we listened to lessons on operating and the safety of our vehicles we were ready to set off for the three hour journey. Curt was driving our Razor and I buckled in tightly next to him. Immediately the dust began flying and I realized just how important our goggles and bandanas were.
We raced hard as we traversed hillside and mountains.
We opened up the bike on the sandy flats leading to the Pacific Ocean. It was a beautiful terrain as saguaro cactus dotted the pathway. What I wasn’t prepared for was the roughest ride and bumps that felt as if they’d jolt you right out of your seat.
After a few stops and getting to view the majesty of the Pacific coast, it was time to switch drivers. I took the drivers seat. Buckled in and realized the belt was loose. I tried to adjust the seat and it wouldn’t. I should have stopped and realized I did not need to be driving this vehicle.
The girls were driving and I didn’t want to miss out!
We set out dashing from trail to trail. It was a little more work than I anticipated as I was having to hold myself up on the seat to be able to reach the pedals. It was exhilarating as the dust grew thick on my goggles. We were cutting back and forth on flat land then all the sudden we were flying up a steep hill. The grade of the hill threw me back in my seat where I was unable to reach the brake.
I look up and realize everyone is at a dead stop at the top of the hill. I can’t reach the brake. I quickly note my options to veer left and tumble down the side of this rugged mountain, barrel into my brother ahead of me, or turn right and crash into the steep wall of the mountain.
Jesus take the wheel.
No sooner had I assessed the situation in my mind, we came to an abrupt stop. The razor had taken a sharp turn to the right somehow and was stopped as we flew over a rock. I was stunned and bruised from the force of being jostled back in this Razor at impact. I was speechless we were alright.
My brother tells me, “I saw your wheel fly by my face.” And my other brother said, “I didn’t know anything was going on until I turned around and saw you up on two wheels turning.”
I know we throw around the cliche’ “Jesus take the wheel” quite often, as if surrendering our actions is an easy thing. But as I sat dumbfounded trying to recall what happened, I realized that Jesus always had the wheel. He was there, driving and steering, whether I recognized him as there or not.
We can be going through a rough dry season in life and wondering where Jesus is. Your health diagnosis might have you blinded you, your financial situation might be suffocating you, and the betrayal of friends might have stole your joy, but Jesus is right there. He sees and is guiding you gently through these barren days.
You might not be able to see Him, but he’s there.
Just as the day we fished for marlins, the captain of the boat spotted a grey whale. I couldn’t see him. I knew he was there as I was being told, but my sight keep me from seeing. I looked all around from the bow of the boat, but nothing. Then all the sudden on on the right hand side of the boat, fifteen feet away, there he was. Huge, massive, and such a display of grandeur.
This beautiful grey whale, the length of our boat, cruising right beside us was so majestic. He raised his head out of the water then gently bends and exhaled. His blow rose high for all to see his magnificence.
I didn’t have time to ask Jesus to take the wheel, while in that horrible situation on the razor. But what I realized through the beauty of that grey whale is that Jesus, while we might not always sense him, is always there at the wheel.
An Invitation for You:
Have you ever felt like you needed to run to the shore to clear your mind and rejuvenate your soul? Maybe the time wasn’t right, the cost was too high, or you weren’t sure how or if that would really bring peace back to your life.
Now is your chance to join me in a cozy beach house (accommodations here) on North Padre Island, a beautiful island near Corpus Christi, TX, to listen and find that refreshment you’ve been longing for. Tickets are limited. Click here for more information.