Jokes, cartoons, and various human lampoons are filled with the traveling anecdote of people saying, “Are we there yet.” It is obvious that if we were there, we would not have to ask the question. People are impatient. I am a people. I am impatient. I love the idea of going somewhere, but I want to be there and not on the way. Quite frankly, the Star Trek ability to beam you somewhere in seconds is absolutely appealing to me. I think I would jump on the transporter, even though my molecules might be scattered through space, just to get somewhere instantly.

We, as Christians, live our lives in the gap between what we were (and were glad to leave) and where God is taking us (a place we really want to go). We go through every state possible during the journey while God is driving us to where He wants us to go. Consider all of your experiences in a car on a long journey and use them as metaphors for your journey with Christ: freaking out if you don’t get to a rest area in the next 20 seconds, fighting with siblings, carrying on a rousing debate, playing games like I spy, being amazed by the scenery, filled with anxiety or exuberance or anything in between regarding where are you are going and/or what you are doing, being hungry or thirsty, spilling food or anything else all over you, being hot or cold or comfortable or uncomfortable, enjoying the people on the journey with you, being frustrated and angry at the people on the journey with  you, being car sick, enjoying extra naps and rest, and so much more.

All those traveling experiences are transitory and express the fullness of human experience. They will all pass as the scenery around the car will pass. The only thing that doesn’t pass is that the Lord is taking us somewhere. We are all safe in His transportation. We can have absolute confidence that He will get us there. 

We may forget the car we are in and the driver because we become so preoccupied with what is going on in the back seat. Each moment occurs in the presence of Jesus, and we can intentionally share them with Him. We can learn to see Him in all of the experiences we have along the way, whether we are happy, mad, sad, or glad. He is in the car with us, working to get us to our destination. His process for our growth and development incorporates every state within which we might ever find ourselves, good or bad. He transforms all, good, bad, and indifferent. 

No, we aren’t there yet, but thank the Lord, we are on the way. The transformer of our lives is in the driver’s seat, even when we think we have taken over during times of sad behavior on our part. He is using every moment to teach us how to live with those on the journey with us. He is using every circumstance to deepen our knowledge of Him and His love and plan for us. He is a father like no other, perfect in all His ways. It is not 2022 which will meet the needs of any. Our needs are met by the Father in Heaven, through His Holy Spirit, who is transporting us through all times, events, and experiences to His plan for our lives, the location we all want to go. We are on the way. We will know when we get there.