“Jesus Take the Wheel” (2005) Carrie Underwood

She was driving last Friday on her way to Cincinnati
On a snow white Christmas Eve
Going home to see her Mama and her Daddy
With the baby in the backseat

Fifty miles to go and she was running low
On faith and gasoline
It'd been a long hard year
She had a lot on her mind and she didn't pay attention
She was going way too fast
Before she knew it she was spinning
On a thin black sheet of glass
She saw both their lives flash before her eyes
She didn't even have time to cry
She was sooo scared

She threw her hands up in the air
Jesus take the wheel
Take it from my hands
Cause I can't do this on my own
I'm letting go
So give me one more chance
Save me from this road I'm on
Jesus take the wheel

It was still getting colder when she made it to the shoulder
And the car came to a stop
She cried when she saw the baby in the backseat sleeping like a rock
And for the first time in a long time
She bowed her head to pray
She said I'm sorry for the way
I've been living my life
I know I've got to change

So from now on tonight
Jesus take the wheel
Take it from my hands
Cause I can't do this on my own
I'm letting go
So give me one more chance
Save me from this road I'm on
Ooh, Jesus take the wheel
Ooh, I'm letting go
So give me one more chance
Save me from this road I'm on
From this road I'm on
Jesus take the wheel
Ooh, take it, take it from me



When Jesus Take the Wheel was released on the radio, it was played A LOT. It’s a great song, I really like the message, but after a while it just became too much. I don’t know about you, but when I hear a song played every three songs or so on the radio, it’s like having it stuck in your head. So I stopped listening to it for a while; now, I go back to it as part of a playlist, or shuffle on my iTunes, and every time I stop for minute and let the words become a sort of personal prayer for my life.

It seems to be a constant battle for me to give up control of my life. And yet I can't seem to get where I need to be on my own! Looking back, I don’t see footprints in the sand, I see road signs and a giant map of the path my life has taken. There are two lines – the one that shows the path I take when I’m at the wheel, that goes all over the place (including off the edge of some cliffs and into a few oceans, rivers, lakes), and the one that shows the path when God is leading the way.

I love maps, I love road trips (more the actual getting there part; once I’m there I’m only content for about two days, then I’m overwhelmed and need to be home again), and I’ve used driving and cars and such as an analogy for my relationship with God for a long time. It makes sense to me. I would encourage you to take a few minutes when you get a chance to figure out a way of seeing your own walk with God, and use that to guide your prayers and actions this week.