When we are driving and get upset with the person that cuts us off, or chew out the person on our tail or look down upon someone making a "stupid" decision on the road, I'm convinced it's a gospel issue.
Maybe you feel justified to make comments about other drivers or maybe you think it's just a matter of holding your tongue. When in reality, as a Christian, it is none of these. You see, road rage and even hints of it start in the heart, and shows how well we understand and appreciate what Jesus did for us on that cross.
I was driving with some friends in Dallas traffic this last semester and something interesting was pointed out. One guy noticed that my friend who was driving was not getting upset with people on the road like he used to and I loved his response. He basically said that over that semester the Lord had shown him how much grace He has on his life and so it was then much easier and natural to show others simple grace on the road. This left me thinking about how true that is.
Before I realized how much grace God has truly and abundantly placed on my life, I was quick to be cynical on the road. When I realized how much I had offended God and how many times I disobeyed or disrespected him yet was showered with grace my driving habits changed. When you realize you deserve hell and are completely ill-deserving of the grace that was abundantly given to you, grace pours out of you and onto ill-deserving people like ourselves. What if we all drove as if our lives had been exponentially changed? What if we pardoned people like we have been pardoned? So many times when I start to get irritated with another driver, I have to pray that God will remind me of how much grace He has shown me or remind myself that I have done so much worse to God than cutting him off or not letting Him in. After all, when we lack self-control, godliness, or brotherly affection on the road, it is because we have forgotten that we were cleansed from our former sins (2 Peter 1:5-9). One of my friends and I who drive a lot together have a joke where whenever we get frustrated with another driver, we sing "Grace, grace, God's grace...grace that is greater than all our sin." This has become our funny way of reminding ourselves that God's grace on us is so much bigger and covers so many of our sins toward Him.
Oh that His grace may continually change the core of who we are and how we act.
If you realize that this is a struggle in your life right now, I encourage you to start by praying that God will make the earth-shattering beauty of His grace toward you come alive, that you may see how ill-deserving you are of the abundant grace poured out on you. Correcting hints of road rage doesn't start with a list of methods. It starts with the heart, and the heart is directly linked to the understanding and appreciation you have for the great, great gospel of Jesus Christ.