Pace Car

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​I often swing between two polar opposites: Clinging so tight to things, without even a thought to consult God, or worse yet, intentionally avoiding Him, lest He tell me my plans are all wrong. Or, feeling so scared, overwhelmed, ill-equipped, crushed that I want to turn it all over to Him and hide under the covers with earplugs and Oreos.

And neither get us where we need to be. God wants to be in control, but He also wants us in the race.

I think of a pace car. The dictionary defines it as a car that sets the pace and positions racers for a rolling start in a warm-up lap or laps before a race, or that returns to control the pace in temporarily hazardous conditions. Another definition says it is a car which limits the speed of competing cars on a racetrack in the case of a caution period such as an obstruction on the track or bad weather. The aim of the safety car is to enable the clearance of any obstruction under safer conditions, and/or await more favorable track conditions weather-wise. At the end of the caution period, the safety car leaves the track and the competitors resume normal racing. The pace car is always near, watching and waiting…ready to jump in when needed.

I want Jesus as the head of my team, my coach, and my pace car. He wants me in the race. He wants me prepared and fully equipped. But He won’t leave me. He is always there watching…seeing things I can’t see from my vantage point behind the wheel. He monitors conditions and obstacles and hazards. He sets the pace. And He lets me race. He lets me do what He has prepared me to do.

God, help me to always seek you as coach, leader, boss, and pace setter. Let me never get behind the wheel without your guidance. Let me always listen to your wisdom and never try to pass you or set my own speed. Thank you for always watching and jumping in. Thank you for always knowing the perfect speed to go given the conditions I find myself in. Give me the courage to stay in the race when I am way behind, dented up from a crash, and just not feeling it.

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