Over the years I’ve racked up a few air miles, so I tune out the flight attendant’s instructions and demonstrations about tightening the elastic on the oxygen mask. First of all, I already know what she’s going to say, and second it never crosses my mind that any of us is actually going to add an inflatable life vest to our wardrobe as we soar over dry land. I trust the plane, and I trust the pilot; he knows how to fly and he knows where were going. So I pull out a book or my ear buds and relax. But when my life gets tough, I struggle to gain control. Remember, control is the opposite of trust.
Out of control
Wide-eyed, my nephew cinched his seat belt tight. He had never been on a plane before, but was excited about our adventure. When the force of forward propulsion pressed him toward the seat, he wailed, “We’re all gonna die.” Smiling at the other passengers, I leaned to his ear and assured him we were going to Disney World, we weren’t going to die. He believed me and stopped whining. Breakfast with Cinderella was magical.
Control is the opposite of trust
When air turbulence bumps the flight, I have one assignment – sit down and buckle my seat belt. Unfazed, I keep my head in my book. If the situation became more serious, I’d do my second assignment – listen and obey. What I wouldn’t do is barge into the cockpit and turn knobs or give the pilot my opinion. That would be ridiculous. Yet, we often share opinions about controlling our own journey with God, especially when life gets turbulent.
His faithfulness is trustworthy
The more often I fly, the more relaxed I am in the passenger seat. Experience increases faith and it grows with time. Every word of the Bible is truth and the more I study it, and walk in it the more I believe, then I’m less prone to panic. Why would the God who sees me through all the pain, all the hurt, and all the loss fail me now? I trust Him because I’ve experienced His faithfulness. He’s never lied before, so I think I’ll buckle up, trust Him and fly to the destination of His glory.
Experience
It was the boy’s first flight and he was so little, so he probably didn’t know there was a cockpit or a pilot, but he trusted me. I reassured him and I’d like to reassure you too. If you are going through turbulence and need to talk, email me. God is in control, even when life isn’t.
“For God gave us a spirit, not of fear, but of power and love and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:7 (ESV)
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