Finding True Freedom in Christ: From Passenger to Full Self-Driving

What does freedom in Christ look like? One thing I have learned is that the more I operate within healthy routines, the freer I am. I know that may sound contradictory, so let me explain. Healthy routines help me stay centered where I need to be. Here are a few examples:

• When I spend time reflecting on God’s desires for my life through His Word, I find it easier to remain aware of His presence throughout the day.

• When I invest time with others who also seek to keep Jesus at the center of their lives, my own spiritual life is enriched through those relationships.

• When I serve others, my focus shifts away from myself and toward what God is doing in their lives.
  

When I fall out of these healthy routines, I often lose my center. My self-centered, reactive tendencies take over, and my mind fixates on emotions and insecurities. This often becomes the dominant force driving my decisions. I see so many people of faith living in this tension for most of their lives.

The good news is that as we mature in our walk with Christ, we can experience the freedom of living from a place of grace, security, and love. This is true freedom. At this stage in my life, my spiritual center is no longer something I maintain merely through discipline. While discipline was essential in the earlier stages of my growth, I now find myself deeply aware of being loved by God. This profound experience of His love frees me from the pressure of meeting others’ expectations, allowing me to be who He created me to be.

Instead of manipulating relationships, I strive to be who God wants me to be within them. Instead of persuading others to behave a certain way, I focus on aligning myself with God’s desires regardless of their actions. Instead of reacting naturally, I seek to listen and respond with grace and truth.

Three Ways We Let Jesus Lead

There are different ways we can allow Jesus to lead our lives. At least three analogies illustrate these differences:

1. Passenger

2. GPS

3. Full Self-Driving (FSD)

Jesus as a Passenger

At first, I treated Jesus as a passenger in my life. I talked with Him, valued His perspective, and appreciated His insight. However, I was still in control, making all the decisions. While I considered His guidance, I ultimately determined my direction. Some people say we should put Jesus in the driver’s seat, but that doesn’t make sense to me. We are not robots following Him without thought or choice. Instead, we partner with Him in the journey.

Jesus as My GPS

As I grew in my faith, Jesus became more like my GPS. I trusted Him to determine the course of my life. He provided wisdom and direction, helping me navigate challenges. Like a GPS, He often guided me away from situations I was unaware of, protecting me in ways I didn’t even recognize at the time. However, just as I sometimes ignore my GPS and trust my own instincts (to my own detriment), I also occasionally disregarded His guidance.

Jesus as Full Self-Driving

Over time, I realized that true freedom comes when I surrender ultimate control. Through experience, reflection, and submission, I learned that Jesus is more like full self-driving (FSD) in my Tesla. It took me time to trust FSD, just as it took time to trust Jesus completely. With FSD, once I set the destination, the system determines how to get there. It speeds up, slows down, signals turns, and decides when to proceed through intersections. In the same way, trusting Jesus means allowing Him to guide not only where I am going but also how I get there.

Many people struggle when they first experience FSD. They feel uneasy when I take my hands and feet off the controls—especially on sharp curves or in heavy traffic. I sometimes still take back control when I feel uncertain. Similarly, trusting Jesus requires faith. Unlike FSD, which is still imperfect, God never makes mistakes. But the act of surrendering control to Him mirrors the trust I must place in Him daily.

Learning to Trust His Guidance

He is the center of my life. Instead of manipulating relationships, I seek to understand who He wants me to be within them. Instead of trying to control others, I focus on aligning myself with God’s desires. Instead of reacting impulsively, I listen and respond in a way that honors Him. Instead of becoming frustrated when things don’t go my way, I ask, “What does God want me to learn from this?” Instead of losing patience with others, I look for ways to extend grace and truth.

Just as with my Tesla, there are still times when I take back control—especially when I step away from my centering routines. Without intentional practices to keep my focus on Christ, it becomes too easy to revert to doing things my way.

True freedom in Christ is not about independence; it is about interdependence with Him. And the more I trust Him to lead, the freer I become and the better we do.