Flying & Faith: What to Do When Turbulence Hits

There’s something about hovering thirty nine thousand feet in the air that makes me think about life, faith, and our lack of control.

We literally have no control when riding in a plane. We have to trust that the pilot knows what he is doing, the airport security screenings were thorough, there is nothing wrong with the plane, and the weather will be good. There are so many aspects of flying that we have no control over.

Now, picture this. I’m riding in a plane, and bad turbulence hits. I get up, go to the cockpit, and tell the pilot that I’m going to fly the plane from here.

That would be crazy, right?

I have no idea how to fly a plane. The pilot, on the other hand, has mastered the art of guiding a plane through turbulence. It would be ridiculous for me to think I could fly the plane through turbulence better than a skilled pilot. The best thing for me to do is buckle up and let the pilot do the rest.

The weird thing is, we do the same thing with God.

When turbulence hits, we try to take matters into our own hands. We stop relying on God and think we can navigate the turbulence of life better than He can. We would never admit this, but it shows in our actions. Trying to take control of our lives displays a lack of faith in God.

Surrendering control is scary. It requires us to trust something or Someone outside of ourselves. However, God can get you through the turbulence of life a lot better than you can on your own. All you have to do is surrender total control to Him.

Look at when Moses crossed the Red Sea. He was leading the Israelite’s away from slavery in Egypt. Then, Pharaoh and the Egyptian army started chasing them. The Israelites are cornered, and the Egyptians begin to close in. The Israelites cry out in fear of their impending doom. “And Moses said to the people, ‘Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.’” (Exodus 14:13-14).

So how does God deliver the Israelites? He tells Moses to stretch out his hand and staff over the sea and divide the water. Despite how crazy this sounds, Moses obeys. He stretches out his hand and staff, and the sea parts.

The Israelites walk between the walls of water, and the Egyptians continue to chase them. Just as the Israelites made it to the other side of the sea, Moses reached his hand out once again. The waters came crashing down, swallowing up the Egyptians. The Israelites were saved.

This is a picture of faith.  The Israelites were in trouble, but God had a plan. Moses listened to God in his time of distress, and this saved both him and the Israelites. However, it required more faith than just casting his hand and staff across the water; Moses needed faith to walk through the parted sea.

Can you imagine? Moses had to walk between massive walls of water for miles to the other side of the sea. At any point, the walls could have collapsed, swallowing up the Israelites. Every step through the sea had to be in faith. If God didn’t come through, they would have died. However, God always comes through.

So, what are you trying to take control of in your life? 

What isn't going as planned, so you've stopped trusting God and taken matters into your own hands?

As a twenty-something transitioning from college to "the real world", taking control of my life instead of trusting God can be so easy. The question that every recent graduate hears is, "So what's next?" 

For most graduates, this question is terrifying, because the answer is typically, "I don't know." This is terrifying because we have to admit we are not in control. God has a plan, but we don't know what it is yet. 

What I have learned is, God uses these times of uncertainty and waiting to pull us closer to Himself, and grow our trust in Him.

Surrender control of your future to the One who has every day of your life already mapped out.

Another area that twenty-somethings commonly take control of is in their relationships. After so many times of going home for the Holidays and getting the question, "Are you dating anyone?", feelings of desperation set in. It is then that people begin to settle and date someone they know isn't right for them because they are tired of waiting.

Don't settle. Trust that God will bring the right person into your life at the right time. You will have to wait, but it will be more than worth it.

So, what are you trying to take control of? Is it a relationship? The future? What people think of you?

Whatever you’re facing today, surrender to the One who is really in control. He knows what He’s doing.

“The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

Exodus 14:14