Ready For Takeoff –
Trust in God.
To trust God in life’s ups and downs is a little like trusting a pilot. You trust the pilot because he knows what he is doing. So why not trust God?
Trust the Pilot
I love to fly, at least if I need to get to my destination quickly. I know nothing about flying that plane, whether a jumbo jet or a small bush plane. Therefore, I have to trust the pilot. I believe he is trained, has gone through safety screenings, and is ready and able to be in charge of this plane – at this time- to the chosen destination.
Now I know that every flight isn’t smooth and the pilot isn’t the only one on the plane with a job to do but he is the one in charge – he knows the plane, the instruments, the necessary details, and what to do in an emergency
The Pilot Knows the Plan
The pilot knows the plan, gives the instructions, and expects them to be carried out in a timely and safe manner. He counts on his co-pilot, the one there to help, to assist, to take directions from the pilot and do them. At times he hands over the controls, for a brief period of time, to the co-pilot who is expected to follow all directions. The pilot and airline expect flight attendants to prepare for take off and landing, to help passengers who sometimes are in distress for various reasons and to help the passengers have a pleasant flight. There is also an expectation placed on the passengers to follow the directions given for their safety like to obey the seat belt signs, the no smoking, and the no harassment policy.
The key is the pilot is in charge – knows the plan and gives the instructions – co pilot and everyone else is to follow them.
Is God Your Pilot?
We each have our own story and are on a unique journey in our life and with God as well as how we interact with others. Where are you on this journey? Is God your pilot? Do you follow His directions? Do you sometimes want to take over control? I know there are many times in the story of my life where I have wanted to sort out those mixed up puzzle pieces all by myself and yet I get nowhere very fast and sometimes I make more of a mess.
My story, my journey has ups and downs. There have been times of great turbulence and other times the journey goes along fairly smoothly. At times I expect to crash and burn at any time. Can you relate? Most likely you can for all of us have some times of impending disaster, rough times, or maybe the disaster isn’t pending but has struck. Can you still trust the pilot?
I Love Stories
I love stories – love to tell them, love to hear other’s stories – have always loved stories – from the time I was a little girl – Bible stories intrigued me – We had this big Bible Story book – I still have it – had colored photos of some of the stories in it. Mom would let us pick and I would want to hear about David and Goliath or Daniel and the Lions Den or Gideon or Paul – it was so hard to pick my favourite.
Disasters and Praising God
Disaster seemed to hit hard when Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den for praying to God as was his custom. Paul was beaten, imprisoned, and shipwrecked. All things we might consider disasters and yet he continued to praise God in the middle of the dark times. Acts 16: 23 says,
“About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.”
Yes they sang at midnight, in jail, after being beaten. Joseph’s brothers sold him as a slave. His master threw him in prison unjustly. Those seem like disasters and yet God worked it for good.
Take the Controls or Trust in God
Modern lives contain all those elements of the unexpected, the painful, and the things we just don’t understand. We have a choice. Try and take the controls and hope we can figure out where the next piece of the puzzle goes, or continue to trust God in the middle of the darkness and pain.
Maybe you are like I was for a number of years. I tried on my own strength and wisdom to do the best I could. I imagined God had a chart on his fridge and if I got enough check marks, I would get a gold star or two or three. I became motivated not by being drawn closer to God and spending time with Jesus because of my love for him but thinking I needed to prove I was good enough to earn more from him. At the time I didn’t realize just how much I thought or felt this way – this trying to earn God’s love.
Ephesians 2: 8 & 9 is a great reminder that it doesn’t work that way.
“For it is by grace you have been saved through faith- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works so that no one can boast.”
I had a plan in my mid teens – finish high school, go to university and become a teacher, find Mr. Right and get married, have kids. . . have this great “happily ever after” life – the stuff of stories right?
Well, I did finish high school. I did go to university and get my teaching certificate. But the boyfriend thing wasn’t seeming to happen and I got impatient. I really didn’t think much of whether God had a plan for me so I took over the pilots’ seat in my life and I made a mess of things for awhile. I tried sitting on a fence not wanting to or scared to give up my faith and walk away from God and yet wanting to just do whatever I felt like. But God did have a plan for me. He waited for me to let him have the controls.
Life has been full of many things since then with good times and turbulence, and full out storms that I didn’t know if I could survive and yet God never changes
Take Over From the Pilot
There are times when I take over the pilot’s seat again and yet when I look back after the storm has passed I realize that even though it didn’t happen the way I thought it would God was there every step of the way.
What he asks me to do might not be on my radar or bucket list, and yet God has a plan and he asks me to be available, to trust him, to give him the controls, and not try and fly this journey myself.
I might fly into the side of a mountain. I might crash on the prairie. But God sees everything and knows each part of the journey. I read this quote, My worst day with God will be better than my worst days without him. If I stay with him as the pilot life will have turbulence and smooth flying but God knows the way, he has a plan
“You are my servant – I have chosen you and not rejected you. So do not fear for I am with you, do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you and uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:9,10
Are you ready for take-off with God as your pilot?
Do you find it difficult to trust God? We would love to hear from you. Comment below or contact us at HopeStreamRadio.
Carol Harrison
Listen to Carol’s program Puzzle Pieces Of Life or visit Carol’s website carolscorner.ca
Carol Harrison B.Ed is a speaker and published author with one book, Amee’s Story and stories in twelve anthologies. She is passionate about helping people of all ages and ability levels find their voice and reach their fullest potential.
She knows, through personal experience that some of life’s experiences are tougher than others. She encourages people that even in the twists and turns of life God’s amazing grace provides hope.
She lives in Saskatoon, SK with her husband Brian. They have four adult children and a dozen grandchildren.
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