Faith on the Frontstretch: Don’t Let Bad Advice Push You into a Pit Road Brawl

Kevin Harvick during driver introductions at Texas Motor Speedway, Nov. 2, 2014.  

“ ... and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” ~ Hebrews 12:1b

Threading the needle isn’t anything new in NASCAR. When a driver sees a line open up and forces his nose between competitors, sometimes the move takes him to Victory Lane. But it could also cause a wreck and earn him a fat lip. On Sunday in Texas, Brad Keselowski took the latter route, mostly as the result of a little unsolicited advice.

If you missed the post-race coverage, here’s a quick recap.

When contact from the No. 2 car cut his left rear tire sending him for a spin and a 29th-place finish, Jeff Gordon was understandably riled. Gordon parked alongside Keselowski on pit road and approached the Penske driver. Surrounded by a throng of racing personnel, the two engaged in a heated, but non-physical, verbal confrontation. For a second, the situation appeared to be winding down as Keselowski put on a ball cap and turned away. Enter Kevin Harvick, stage right.

Harvick pushed Keselowski back toward Gordon, igniting a knock-down, fists-a-flyin’ brawl amongst crew members and drivers that ended with bloody lips on both sides. Interestingly, Harvick didn’t think he was culpable in the incident.

“I didn't get in the middle of anything,” Harvick said. “I just turned him around and told him to go fight his own fight.”

Keselowski didn’t have a chance to accept or decline the meddling advice because the scrum escalated around him, like a spark on dryer lint.

That happens in our personal lives on occasion. Sometimes people offer unsolicited advice or intervene in your situation without invitation. But a little push doesn’t have to end in a brawl. You don’t have to listen to unwelcome counsel.

When you’re stumped, you can get superior advice from God -- without hostility or drama or a fat lip.

Why should you listen to God’s advice?

He’s sovereign. He knows all sides of your struggles. Even though you may be totally stumped and frustrated about something, He knows the best “next step” for you to take. But He won’t shove you in that direction. Nope, God is a gentleman. He’ll wait for you to ask for advice.

He’s wise. God is the valedictorian of the universe, but in a time-and-space-don’t-matter way. He understands every angle of a situation and knows what the outcome of various decisions will be.

Best of all, God loves you. He never bails on people who seek His help. In fact, the Bible contains stories about people who took God’s advice and received blessings, not blows.

If you’re feeling beat up by pushy advice, walk away. Walk toward God, and seek His perfect guidance.

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!      ~ Romans 11:33 (NASB)
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“Faith on the Frontstretch” appears every 1st & 3rd Wednesday and explores the role of faith in motorsports. Follow on twitter at @bbreinke.

Want more racing devotions? When you donate $25 to Skirts and Scuffs, we’ll send you a complimentary copy of Beth’s book, Race Fans’ Devotions to Go, a month-long, pocket-sized devotional book for NASCAR fans. Or you can purchase the book in paperback & ebook here.