“Please return to your seats and fasten your seatbelt.” I have heard that request dozens of times when traveling on an airplane without paying too much attention to it. I remember a flight from Denver, Colorado to Gillette, Wyoming when those words were the difference between security and serious injury. The pilot announced that we would be encountering some turbulence ahead and gave us those directions. Moments later that plane was rocking side to side, sliding up and down on air currents, buffeted by winds. Unsecured objects flew around the cabin. Some screamed in fear. I heard the murmur of prayers. The wild ride continued for several moments. There was nothing I could do but trust the skill and training of the pilot and the structural integrity of that airplane. When we landed it was a relief to step onto solid ground, though still shaken.
What a metaphor for life in general. We are cruising along enjoying each day,
thankful for friends and family, healthy and happy … until we hit the wild
winds that toss us around. We feel helpless, sometimes even hopeless, as circumstances
beyond our control toss us around. Who
among us has not laid awake into the early morning hours in the middle of emotional
turbulence? Who has not cried tears that
are as much about helpless frustration as they are about real sorrow? Who has
not felt the grip of fear that is so powerful it makes us physically ill? That is the kind of turbulence in life I am
talking about today.
There is great comfort found in Paul’s inspired words written after his own encounter with terrible turbulence. A modern paraphrase captures the emotion for me even as the passage encourages me. "We don’t want you in the dark, friends, about how hard it was when all this came down on us in Asia province. It was so bad we didn’t think we were going to make it. We felt like we’d been sent to death row, that it was all over for us. As it turned out, it was the best thing that could have happened. Instead of trusting in our own strength or wits to get out of it, we were forced to trust God totally—not a bad idea since he’s the God who raises the dead! And he did it, rescued us from certain doom. And he’ll do it again, rescuing us as many times as we need rescuing." (2 Corinthians 1:8-10, The Message) This man of great faith felt like he was at the brink of death itself! His only option, he concluded, was to trust God. He buckled up, rode out the storm trusting God, and emerged with deeper and stronger faith.
We all pray for level pathways, for bright sunshine, and for
happiness. That’s good and thankfully we are blessed with those seasons, most
of the time, at least in my experience. But, turbulence will come. God will,
for His own purposes, allow His children to endure difficult days and terrible
turbulence. The unavoidable fact is that we live in a world where is evil is
real, where we make some painful mistakes, where the irrational choices of
others bring awful hardship to our front door!
It may sound simplistic, yet it is true that our best and first response
is to renew our faith, to put on the seatbelt of trust, and to
let God be God.
The principle that Peter teaches us is no mere platitude. It is a pathway to security in the storms of life. He says "Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—because these trials will make you partners with Christ in his suffering, and afterward you will have the wonderful joy of sharing his glory when it is displayed to all the world. Be happy if you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of God will come upon you. If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs. But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his wonderful name!" (1 Peter 4:12-16, NLT) How I love the practicality of Peter. Hard days will come. Let God use them to shape your character and grow your faith. Oh, by the way, if you do stupid and sinful things, don’t blame God for the turbulence that results. Don’t you love this guy?
As I close this thought, I want to go to the Psalms for our word from the Word. The counsel of these inspired words is amazing, steadying – like a seatbelt for you on a flight in turbulence. Read them prayerfully and let faith increase.
" Of David.
Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; for
like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die
away.
Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do
not fret—it leads only to evil. For evil men will be cut off, but those who
hope in the LORD will inherit the land." (Psalm 37:1-9, NIV)
Amen!
_________
(Video of this blog at this link)
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine
He's been my fourth man in the fire (from the story in Daniel about the guys in
the fiery furnace)
Time after time
Born of His Spirit, Washed in His blood
And what He did for me on Calvary
Is more than enough
I trust in God My Savior
The One who will never fail
He will never fail
Perfect submission All is at rest
I know the author of tomorrow
Has ordered my steps
So this is my story And this is my song
I’m praising my risen King and Savior
All the day long
I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered
I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered
I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered
That’s why I trust Him That’s why (I trust Him)
Brandon Lake, Chris Brown, Mitch Wong, Steven Furtick
Brandon Lake Music; Music by Elevation Worship Publishing; A Wong Made Write Publishing; Integrity's Praise! Music
CCLI License #810055
