October 21, 2026
We recently bought a new car. My 2017 Nissan had 196,000 miles on it and had seen its better days. My new car is taking some getting used to as it has so many different warnings. If I don't put my seat belt on right away, it will beep continually until I do. If I change lanes and another vehicle is in my blind spot, the steering wheel will vibrate along with an alert. If I happen to drift a little out of my lane, it will give a little pull to guide me back in my lane. At times I wonder what in the world is this car doing, and then I realize it is warning me because something is not right.
My car is not trying to annoy me but protects me from potential danger. Just like my car has different warning systems to keep me safe on the road, God has ways of warning us, correcting us, and at times redirecting our lives. For instance, if I back out of my driveway without my seatbelt, my car will continue to beep until I buckle that seatbelt. My car knows that I am moving without very important and needed protection. God's word tells us that he provides daily spiritual armor to protect us. In Ephesians 6:11, the Bible says, "Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes." We need protection for the battles, temptations, and troubles that each day could bring. We also need the armor to convict and protect us from our attitudes, behaviors, or choices that might not be glorifying our God. Just like our seatbelt is designed to protect us in a collision, the armor of God equips, protects, and allows us to stand firm from the collisions we face in our daily lives.
Then there are the times when I try to change lanes, and my car alerts me that another vehicle is in my blind spot. I have checked my mirrors, and everything seems good, but my car detects something I don't notice. If I ignore that alert, there could be an accident. In life, that's exactly why we don't just rely on ourselves but on God's leading and direction. At times we might pray for God to open a door of change such as a new job, new relationship, or just an important life decision, but we don't take the time to pray and seek His direction before we walk through that door. In Proverbs 3:5-6, the Bible reminds us to trust the Lord with all our hearts, not to just lean on our own understanding and to acknowledge Him in all our ways. Just like my car can alert me to blind spots, God can always see what I cannot see. We might see opportunities, but God knows the consequences. We must always pray, seek guidance in Scripture, be patient, and listen rather than just acting before we hear from God. We can't get so excited about changing lanes in our cars or our lives that we ignore the warning signs that could keep us from harm.
Another feature in my car is the lane-centering system that will gently steer me back toward the center of the lane when I am distracted, drifting, and not paying attention as I should. The correction reminds me that I am not where I am supposed to be. Sometimes God will also get our attention when we are drifting away from Him and where He wants us to be. There is a danger in drifting, whether you are in your car or in your life. There is the possibility of moving and still going the wrong way. We can be successful in the eyes of the world and neglect our relationship with God. We can be busy but not be setting aside time with God. We can look like everything is fine on the outside, but on the inside, we have slowly drifted away from God. Thank goodness God loves us all so much that He corrects us!
When God shows us that we are drifting into a wrong lane in our lives, we don't have to keep driving in that direction. When God corrects us, He is lovingly calling us back to the correct lane where He is in control. We just have to make the adjustment to get back to where He wants us to be. God loves us all too much to leave us drifting in a direction that leads us away from Him.
All of the warnings in my car and that God provides in my life are to keep me on the right path. My car wants me to put on a seatbelt. My God wants me to put on His armor.
My car warns me about blind spots. My God wants me to seek His wisdom for decisions in my life.
My car alerts me when I am drifting out of my lane. My God loves me enough to correct me when I am drifting and moving away from Him.
We have to remember that warnings, whether in our car or our lives, are not meant to stop our journey; they are meant to keep us from losing our way. The different protections in my car will continue to get my attention. I just pray that the same warnings God provides will get our attention in our lives. I don't want to just drive through life aimlessly, following my own decisions. I want to walk with God, listen for His voice, and follow His direction. The true goal in life is not just to get where WE want to go - it's to go where GOD wants us to be.
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Jill Johnson finds spiritual applications in her everyday experiences as a wife, mother, grandmother, and Georgian. Jill is retired from the Georgia Baptist Mission Board and is available to speak to your church's women's gatherings. Reach her at jjohnson@gabaptist.org.
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