Skip to main content

Cruise at Your Own Risk


Anyone else love the cruise control in your vehicle? I personally look forward to opportunities to just turn on the cruise control and coast on the highway. But there’s a catch. For one thing, you can’t cruise in the rain. It puts you at risk of hydroplaning. If there’s a lot of traffic, you’ll find that cruise control isn’t very useful because of everyone traveling at different speeds.

Sometimes I think we treat life like the cruise control in our car. As long as things are coasting comfortably, we are content to just move along. Don’t get me wrong: I enjoy seasons of contentment. But if we aren’t careful, I think we can put our walk with Christ in jeopardy if we try to just “coast along.”

I will lead those who are blind by a way they have not known, In paths they have not known I will guide them. I will turn darkness into light before them And uneven land into plains. These are the things I will do, And I will not leave them undone. (Isaiah‬ ‭42‬:‭16‬ ‭NASB)

But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not just hearers who deceive themselves. (James‬ ‭1‬:‭22‬ ‭NASB)

It’s a new year, and everyone is thinking about how 2025 is going to be different. What do you want to change? I want to challenge you to step out of your comfort zone and take back over the cruise control of life. For some of us this may look like doing more for God or deepening our relationship with Him. For others, it may be actually saying “no” and creating space to honor God, your family, and yourself.

Maybe there’s a new skill you’d like to learn. Perhaps you feel a tug into volunteering at your church or in your community. For me, I’ve ventured into a new area of ministry as a parter with LifeBeads. I can’t wait to share more about that with you later. Dig deep and take that first step. 
I’m not saying it is going to be easy. But breaking out of our comfort zone is always worth it. If we “fail,” we learn something. And this is living.


The best news is that God never leaves us alone to figure things out. If He is leading you into something new, embrace it.


Keep trusting God’s plan, and remember we are living more than unbroken. 


© 2025 Jill Cook. All rights reserved.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Feelings and Faith

Vulnerable moment: it’s been a crazy week. If I’m being honest, the last six months or more have been wrought with uncertainty and so many questions within myself about my purpose.  I’ve been in a season of transition in our family with adapting to having an independent adult child and an independent teenage son-both of whom are thriving. So my purpose as a mom has shifted into steadfast support and guidance from a distance rather than rushing to the rescue, which I know is where we should be with them. This shift has adjusted our marriage. Lyndon and I are both learning how to navigate this new territory, and I’m so grateful we have each other.  My Daddy died suddenly last year, and I am still grieving the unexpected loss and what could have been. Grief is a strange journey and differs for everyone. What I know is Christ gives me the most profound peace when I feel my turbulent heart trying to sway me. But it certainly is a sadness that is layered. Because of these major life...
Post a Comment
Read more

He’s Already Heard My Prayer

This is one of the most difficult pieces to write. My dad, Steve, passed away this morning unexpectedly. He was the “Music Man” in my world who made life a song.  Daddy was responsible for putting me on the stage. At two years old, he stood me on the altar at church so everyone could watch me sing “Victory in Jesus.”   At twelve, he was teaching me how to set up equipment and mix sound. As a teenager, we wrote songs together. His love of music is so deeply ingrained in me that I feel a piece of that is somehow missing now. Things were not always great between me and Daddy. In fact, we went for a long time without having contact with one another. I’m so grateful that God restored our relationship in his final years. Neither one of us were perfect in our relationship, but I always loved him deeply. So today, I’m heartbroken. Memories are flooding my mind, and there are so many things I still wanted us to share. I know the coming days will be filled with waves of grief and the st...
Post a Comment
Read more

Five Favorite Things

  With Valentine's Day coming up, I've been thinking about the "stuff" that I really like. Flowers are great, and jewelry is nice. But if you want a friend gift or something a little more unique, here are a few ideas. Perhaps this post will help you shop for the perfect gift that will become a "favorite thing." For the Music Lover If you are purchasing for a musician or vocalist, you have a ton of options including a guitar pick necklace or keyring to tickets for a concert. Even vintage gifts like records have made a strong comeback in the music community. Things to consider when purchasing for your musical genius: what is their favorite genre? Who is their favorite artist? Before buying that album, make sure they don't already have it. For the Teacher I can tell you most assuredly what many teachers DON'T need: another mug. Even though this seems like a simple, cute gift, as a teacher, I have difficulty parting with any gift from students. I have ...
Post a Comment
Read more