Jesus Is My Co-Pilot, But I Think He Lost the Map: Navigating the Hilarious Uncertainty of Life

Let's be real for a second. As we get a little more silver in our hair and a little more creak in our knees, we start to realize a cold, hard truth: we control absolutely nothing. Zero. Zip. Nada. We cannot control the weather, we cannot control the economy, we certainly cannot control other people (much to my eternal frustration), and we cannot even control how fast our own metabolism decides to plummet.

But let us take it a step further. In the middle of all this chaotic lack of control, have you ever caught yourself daydreaming about having a crystal ball? Specifically, a crystal ball that lets you predict exactly what God is going to do next?

Wouldn't it be absolutely fantastic if the Almighty operated on a predictable schedule? I am talking about a solid, logical itinerary that we could review, nod at, and stamp with our earthly seal of approval. Ah yes, Lord, I see you have scheduled a minor inconvenience for Tuesday at 3 PM, followed by a windfall of good news on Thursday. Approved!

I have to wonder if the angels up in heaven ever sit around the water cooler scratching their heads over His management style. What would it actually be like to understand God's actions in real-time? Sure, we would still have our human moments. We live in a messy, broken, sinful world, so things like pain, tragedy, and the inexplicable popularity of reality television would still exist. But imagine the sheer relief of just getting it. For those of us who love Him, wouldn't it be incredibly neat to just have a divine cheat sheet?

Think about the perks. If we could clearly understand God's master plan, we could finally kick our doubts to the curb. We would not have to lie awake at 2 AM wondering if our prayers are just bouncing off the ceiling fan. We would actually understand why He sometimes leaves us on read and does not swoop in to fix our problems with Amazon Prime two-day shipping speed.

Now, I do not speak for you, but I have had some pretty candid conversations with the Big Guy upstairs. And by candid, I mean I have thrown full-blown adult temper tantrums. I have been upset, I have been frustrated, and I have not exactly held back my opinions. I mean, come on! We expect our earthly buddies to have our backs and look out for our best interests, so is it not natural to expect the Creator of the Universe to provide top-tier customer service?

But here is the humbling, slightly embarrassing reality: I do not always know what is best. Shocking, I know. God does, but I certainly do not. Oh, I have moments where I am absolutely convinced I have it all figured out. Over the years, I have mapped out bulletproof plans, complete with flowcharts and backup strategies, absolutely certain that my way would lead to glory, success, or at least a really good parking spot. And time and time again, hindsight has gently tapped me on the shoulder to remind me that I have absolutely no clue what I am doing.

Thankfully, I am in good company. Just look at the Bible. Numbers 14 is a classic example of humans thinking they know better. God essentially told the Israelites that because they did not trust Him to handle the giant problem in Canaan, it was back to the wilderness for them.

Did they listen? Of course not. They got mad, threw a fit, and decided to play weekend warriors. They mobilized a do-it-yourself army and charged into Canaan without God's protection. Moses and the Ark of the Covenant stayed back at camp, probably shaking their heads. Those wannabe soldiers got absolutely clobbered and came running back with their tails tucked firmly between their legs. A classic case of I-told-you-so of biblical proportions.

Because we are prone to such spectacular misjudgments, God, in His infinite wisdom, gave us earthly friends to help us navigate this circus. At the absolute top of my list is my wife, Dianne. She is the voice of reason when my grand plans start sounding a little too much like those Israelites in Numbers 14.

I also have to give a massive shoutout to my buddies in the Oregon Adventist Men's Chorus, or OAMC. Yes, even the tenors. I know it takes a lot of grace to put up with tenors, but God is good. We all have our daily battles, but the camaraderie, the jokes, and the shared faith are absolute lifesavers. I am really hoping we can get back to our regular fellowshipping and singing soon, because a guy can only sing in the shower for so long before he needs a real audience.

As the years keep piling on, and they really do pile on, do they not, one thing becomes crystal clear. Making the choice to commit my life to Jesus is, hands down, the best decision I have ever made. Even when His plans make zero sense to my human brain, and even when He operates on a timeline that tests every ounce of my patience, He has been, is, and always will be my ultimate Best Friend.

If you have not quite reached that conclusion yet, I genuinely hope you do soon. It does not make the ride any less crazy, but it sure is nice knowing who is actually driving the bus.

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