a hurdle overcome

I passed my driving test on 11 July 2007 - on my first try.

This is a milestone in my life, because it shows me the power of God's word at work in my life.

For years, i've been afraid of driving. One recurring dream in my late teens and early 20s was that i would drive into the brick wall (this was the wall in the garage we had in our home of those years) . Another horrifying thought i usually avoided imagining through to its end was that I would destroy a life. So with these deterrents, i never wanted to learn to drive.

Finally, prompted by the Holy Spirit, with the desire to be a greater support to my parents, with the loving encouragement from my mum, armed with the knowledge of the word of God that "I can do all things through Him who gives me strength" and "God did not give us a spirit of timidity but of power, love and a sound mind", and also some moral support from the younger of my 2 younger brothers who signed up with me at the driving school, i started my lessons late last year.

My initial intention was to learn manual, instead of going straight for auto. The hurdle was too high, and my faith as well as my natural skills (which did not bend towards that direction - i took ages to learn to ride a bike) could not handle the footwork and gear changing. So upon the advice of one instructor, i switched to auto, and then i started to enjoy being on the road.

Instead of giving in to my fear every time i thought about driving, i started to declare that God had already given me boldness, and praised God for being with me and helping me. I began to see myself driving safely. The dream which had been so powerful before, faded from my consciousness. So i looked forward to lessons...most of the time. :D

As my test date neared and i was not mastering lane changing, the Holy Spirit showed me that i was talking about my failure to master it as though it were an impossible task. That somehow negated what i was praying and declaring regarding driving well. So when i went for the last few driving lessons before the test, instead of telling the instructor how bad i was at lane changing so they could give me help, i merely mentioned i needed practice. That helped somewhat my mindset and perspective. And i began to improve my lane changing by leaps and bounds.

2 days before my driving test, the fears came back again, threatening to overwhelm me. Again, i went to the word of God - mainly the 2 verses i mentioned earlier - and meditated on them. I was tossing between passing and failing, so i began to ask the Lord whether i would pass. The Holy Spirit replied: according to my faith. So i began to ask myself: what is my faith? what can i believe God for?

At first, i could barely see myself passing, but as i focused on His goodness in my life, and as i continued to meditate on His love and faithfulness found in His Word, my faith increased. I saw, with eyes of faith, myself passing and driving.

This phrase came up in my spirit the night before my test:
I will live and not die and praise the Lord in the land of the living;
I will pass and not fail, and praise the Lord in the land of the "driving".
I smiled to myself, amused at how live was equated with pass, and die with fail. But this helped me lots.

I enjoy driving now. And i'm believing for an increased understanding of road conditions so i'll be a skilfull and safe driver at all times.

Thank you Lord for favour and grace!