Have you ESC?

We recently purchased a much-needed, new-to-me vehicle. I can now sneak out of the neighborhood without all of my neighbors hearing my transmission’s screams of death.

The new vehicle came with a anti-lock brakes. Although we’ve had a mild winter in Michigan, over the past couple weeks, I’ve been thankful for those vibrating brakes under my feet. It’s the strangest sensation to hit the brakes and feel the ABS system take control. I’m thankful though, because it works much better than the old method of pumping the brakes which still resulted in me sliding all over the road!

The first time I drove on snow with the new-to-me vehicle, I noticed the initials ESC kept lighting up on the dashboard, even when I wasn’t hitting the brakes. My husband told me it was something related to the anti-lock brake system, It was as if the vehicle somehow knew when I need extra help.

At first I wondered if it was like the esc button on my computer keyboard, meaning “escape.” I hit that button quite frequently when I don’t know what else to do – get me outta here, help! Escape!! I could use an escape button on my car! Then I looked it up and ESC stands for “electronic stability control.” It’s a system that electronically controls the front-to-rear brake bias. That means absolutely nothing to me, but anything that helps me not slide into oncoming traffic makes me happy!
It’s a strange feeling to have something else step in and take control. I’ve had ESC in my life too – Experiencing the Spirit’s Control.

There have been so many times in my life where I had no idea what to do, how to avoid the oncoming train of disaster in my life, where I was in the midst of a spiritual and emotional mess and I was looking for the escape button. I just wanted to avoid the person or situation. But then God stepped in with His Holy Spirit who lives inside of me, and took control. The words that tumbled out of my mouth were not my own. The thoughts that I wrote in a journal or in an article did not come from me. The graciousness, forgiveness, and love that I extended were not my own. It all came from God.

It’s an odd feeling to know that you’re not in control. It’s especially difficult to let go of being in charge when you are a control-freak like me. Yet I’ve never experienced greater peace than when I hit that “ESC” button in my spirit. Through prayer and study of God’s Words, I open the door for the Holy Spirit to dwell fully in my life – the very Spirit of Jesus that He promised would come and help all those who love Him and believe in Him.

He’s my comforter, my Helper, the One Who reminds me of God’s words. And when I don’t know what to do or what to say, He does. He’s available to all those who love Him and believe in Him.

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

John 14:16,17, 26, NIV