Shifting Gears: Redeeming my Commute

by Larissa Weatherby

A commuter driving on a pretty country road.

For most of my adult life, I’ve driven for half an hour each way to work and back. Usually, I’m looking for something engaging or productive to help me fill this time - although some days it’s just making sure I have something playing to keep me alert and awake. Over the years,

I've passed my travel time with countless hours of audiobooks, podcasts, and music. Often, I would gravitate toward things that pique a personal interest for me, without really thinking too intentionally about what I’m consuming on my drive.

This year I had the honour of spending some of my summer vacation volunteering in a local camp ministry. It was an amazing opportunity to get to know some of the emerging leaders from our churches in PEI. As I listened to their plans for their own spiritual development as they headed back to school in September, I also took the opportunity to pause and consider my own walk with God.

September sometimes can feel as much like a “New Year” as January 1st. As summer ends, things get busier - work picks up, and commitments start up again. To me, September feels like a reset - especially after being able to enjoy more rest, relaxation, and fellowship over the summer. As I reflected on my days and what needed adjusting, I felt God asking me to consider my morning drive to work. This time often plays a role in setting my mood for the day. I knew God was asking me to reflect on some of the media I had been consuming and whether it was setting me up to start my day pointed in the right direction. I realized that I needed to be more intentional about my choices for media on my drive into work.

As I’m entering into the 5th month of my intentionally redeeming my morning commute, I’ve found that my day is off to a much better start when I put the focus on God as I’m driving into work. It’s helped to set the tone for my day and to remind me that outside of my job, there is something bigger going on. That God has called each of us to a bigger story. As we have just passed the Christmas season and the New Year, maybe you’ve also taken some time to reflect on your life. Maybe you feel God asking you to surrender something in your life. If what I’m writing resonates with you and you’re looking to make your commute or driving time more intentional (or even if you’re more of an auditory learner), let me tell you what’s been playing on my car speakers lately.

Scripture:

Every morning, before I start driving, I pull up YouVersion and make sure I've found my passage for the day and I hit play. From my experiences with audiobooks, I believe that a good story and a good narrator are two important factors. For my drives, I’ve been using the New Living Translation (NLT) audio bible available on YouVersion with Dr. Theon Hill narrating the entire Old Testament. He’s got a great voice for narration and really brings the text to life. I started in 1 Samuel and went through 1 & 2 Samuel and 1 & 2 Kings before moving to Isaiah as I prepared for Advent and the Christmas season. If you’re starting, I recommend beginning with a narrative book and waiting until you get the hang of it before moving to other genres.

I usually listen to 2-3 chapters of scripture before transitioning to some music to set the tone of my day. You can also listen to plans on YouVersion which includes a devotional and accompanying scripture. There are plans for almost every season of life or struggle you are facing, or you can try something like a bible in a year plan or a chronological reading plan.

Music:

There are so many great Christian music artists out there - you can find songs that worship God in every genre. My music taste hovers around folk, singer-songwriter, soft rock, and pop. I’ll give you a few highlights from my current playlist. Ellie Holcomb released an album in April 2024 titled ‘All Of My Days’. Every song on the album is inspired by a chapter of the Psalms. I’ve been a fan of Ellie and her husband Drew for years and this album is one of my favourites. If Ellie is a new artist for you, I’d recommend checking out ‘Where Can I Go’ (based on Psalm 139) and ‘Thy Word’ (based on Psalm 119). Another album I’ve been enjoying is by Benjamin William Hastings - ‘Sold out, Sincerely’. The song “I Still See You In It” gives me chills every time I hear it. It’s relatable to Christians who have ever questioned how God is still present and moving amid the commercialism, pride, and weirdness that can be found in the modern church these days. Chris Renzema, Jon Guerra, and Pat Barrett are also great choices. Elevation Rhythm is my go-to when I’m looking for some higher-energy worship music to help me get going on slower days.

Podcasts:

I love listening to podcasts while I drive. There are a few faith-based podcasts in my current rotation including Rebuilders, Theology in the Raw, and A Drink with a Friend. Many of our local churches also host podcasts where they post the previous week’s sermon. If you’re looking for other recommendations - try asking around to see what other people in your church are listening to. You may not agree with everything, and that’s ok! We can learn a lot from other Christians even when we disagree about certain issues. Being able to think critically about what you’re listening to in light of what God says in his word is a great skill to use and strengthen.

A Screenshot of The Book: The Gospel comes with a house key

Audiobooks:

There are so many great Christian audiobooks out there. I always enjoy a good memoir or biography. Beth Moore does a fantastic job narrating her own memoir My All Knotted Up Life released in 2024. I’ve enjoyed Rosaria Champagne Butterfield’s books as audiobooks (The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert and The Gospel Comes with a House Key). Recently I’ve been enjoying “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” audiobook, read by Michael York.

Radio:

Many places also have a Christian Radio Station that you can tune into. In PEI we have Inspire.fm. They play Christian music as well as devotional thoughts throughout the day. Check what might be available to you locally. If you have a satellite radio subscription, there are several options for Christian stations.

Quiet Reflection:

I also try to take opportunities to drive in silence, using the time of prayer and reflection on the day ahead or the day finished. If you’re anything like me, silence in the car is not a common occurrence. I always feel the need to have something on in the background. I’ve learned in this season that my commute is also a time when I can pray over the day ahead of me. This is also a great chance to sit and wait and to practice stillness in waiting to hear from God.

Where to Start?

There are a lot of helpful (and free!) apps that have made things easier for me along the way. If you have a smartphone, there are a few things I'd recommend. First, start by downloading the YouVersion bible app. This is a great app to use whether using the audiobook features or for bible and devotional reading. You can select which translation (and narrator) is preferable. You can also skip between versions - so I would suggest trying out a few to make sure you find something that you can easily understand (and listen to). Maybe try listening to a shorter book of the bible every day on your drive but pick a different translation each day for a week. (Colossians is a good one to try if your commute is around the same length as mine). If this kind of technology isn’t an option- consider your local library or your church library to find some audio resources compatible with your car (many still carry CDs).

I also recommend downloading an app with capacity for podcasts. There are lots of free podcasting apps out there. I currently use Apple Podcasts, and I’ve used Spotify in the past, but there are lots of options in the app store on your phone.

There are lots of user-friendly options for audiobook resources. If you have a library card for your area (it’s free to sign up) you can access the Libby app (sometimes called Overdrive) which has lots of eBooks and audiobooks available to borrow from all different genres - you can find Christian books if you filter your search to look specifically within the genre.

The ChristianAudio App gives away a free audiobook every month to their email subscribers. There are other subscription-based apps like Audible, Libro.fm (which supports your local bookstore), and Everand.

If you need help getting apps connected to your phone, check in with some of the younger people in your church. Bluetooth and CarPlay are also great resources - if your car supports either of these but if your phone isn’t connected, I’m sure those same young people in your church would love to help you (consider asking someone who is already praying for patience). If your car doesn’t have CarPlay features, you should consider preparing before you leave to make sure you have the right apps open and connected to Bluetooth - or the right CD in your car’s CD player. Make sure your focus is on the road, “Jesus take the wheel” should not be your literal prayer….

As we enter into 2025 I know many people will be making New Year's Resolutions. I challenge you to prayerfully consider which areas of your life God is asking you to surrender. If, like me, you feel him leading you to reconsider your time spent in the car, I hope some of these suggestions are helpful.