The Keys to the Truck
By Eric Abney
You remember the first time your parents let you drive the car. I was
14 and we had to take the garbage to the dump. It was about a mile and a half from the house and Dad let me drive. I was scared and I ran off the road one time too. It was very exciting and we did make it back to the house safely and in one piece. I remember times when we would be doing things at the house and the truck would be parked in the road of the subdivision, Dad would toss me the keys and say, “Pull the truck in”. Wow! What excitement would rush through my body. It wasn’t an everyday occasion to drive at 14 so I always took him up on the opportunity.
In those moments I felt like Dad was saying something more than just, “here are the keys”. I felt like he was saying, “I trust you. You have what it takes.” There are times in our lives when God in essence throws us the keys to the truck. It is in those moments that we feel as though God Himself is saying, “I believe in you. I trust you. You have what it takes.” I have done quite a bit of communicating in my life, but I can remember the first time I stood up in front of my youth group and spoke in front of them. I was scared to death, but I could feel God saying, “You got what it takes. You can do it.” And I did. It probably wasn’t the greatest thing they had ever heard, but God was proud and I think those words were some of His favorite things He’s ever heard me say.
God desires to father us and His fathering is perfect and is everything we need. He has been fathering you and He has whispered things to you. Don’t drive by those things. Park it there and enjoy what God is saying to you. He means it and He wants you to know that, “You have what it takes.” Think about how God might be throwing you the keys to the truck.
Be Challenged and Live adventurously,
-Eric
Hey Eric, great post. My parents instilled in me so many times a sense that they trusted me. Some friends were not so fortunate, and it really affected the way they interacted with others and the world when they finally had the freedom to do as they wished.
Matt, thanks for your comment. You are right. Our parents carry so much weight in our lives. Thanks for reading our blog.
-Eric
Before you got the keys, your dad tossed you a helmet first. Dad said “now your grown”, he put you on a bike then pushed you off to ride on your own. At that moment it’s just you. Only you with the cold winter wind blowing in your face as you realizes you’re no longer in the same place. When you looked back for your dad and he wasn’t in view, what did you do?
Driver40, beautiful poem you wrote and quite thought provoking. Thank you so much for reading and taking time out to comment.
-Eric
That was a question. What did you do in those moments where it was just you?
Just because you can’t see Dad doesn’t mean he is not there. I don’t like to be alone, but I do feel that God draws me to those places of it being “just me” so He can remind me that I am never truly alone. God often drew people out of the commotion of the world so He could speak tenderly to them.
Moses, David, and Jesus are just a few examples.
I hope this helps in answering your question.
-Eric
Well, let me ask it this way… What do you, Eric, do when you’re out in the wilderness? What is your attitude like in those moments?
Driver40
Driver40, My attitude varies. Sometimes I feel lonely, scared, and not good enough. Other times I have an attitude of just being overwhelmed by God.
Regardless of what my attitude is, I focus on what I know to be true about God. I know that He loves me, He accepts me, I am worthy because of Him, and I am safe in Him. Those things are true, and no matter how I feel I focus on those truths.
That is what I do in the wilderness.
You may be looking for a formula and to be honest I don’t have one of those for you. There is rarely an a + b = c.
I know there is no formula. I was just wondering how you deal when your in the wilderness. Take care and honestly… May God Bless You.
Driver40
just kidding.
PS. Doesn’t a + b = ab?
Driver40, Thanks for the great conversation. I read your opening blog and I know that you are in the middle of a tough time right now. Just remember that God uses everything even our pain and conflict. He will use yours too.
-Eric