I love to fly. It’s not something I get to do very often, but when I do get to fly, I enjoy it. I love sitting next to the window so I can look out over the earth as the plane flies across the skies.
It was an early Monday morning, and I was all boarded and ready for take off. I had a window seat this time, and I pulled up the shade to look outside. The morning was still fairly dark, but I could see the sun starting to peak over the horizon in the distance. The plane picked up speed and ascended into the air. I could hear the pilot giving the weather update for the flight as the plane continued to rise into the skies, “Clear skies and a smooth flight all the way to Dallas.” I stared out the window amazed at how the colors of the sunrise came through the clouds as we lifted into the air and changed directions. As we turned, the view changed. I couldn’t help but notice the clouds as I continued to look over the skies. Suddenly, the view of the clouds looked very different without the light from the sun. We were much higher in the air as we continued our ascent, and the scene out the window had changed dramatically from the view from the ground. In fact, now the clouds seemed almost daunting. Just then, the words from the pilot’s weather update floated across my mind. Clear skies and a smooth flight? This was sure not what I saw from my window. The sky was anything but clear. I couldn’t get over how thick and heavy the clouds looked. They were dark gray and heavy like a ceiling pushing down on anything that tried to break through them.
I’ve flown often enough to know that sometimes going through thick clouds can cause some turbulence, so I waited expectantly for the few bumps to hit as the plane would certainly have to push hard through the cloudy cover. However, as I watched out the window, the plane continued to rise into the air with ease. Were we in the clouds yet? Outside I could see the gray clouds covering the windows, but where were the bumps? The ride wasn’t bumpy or rough at all! How strange was this?! There was no turbulence, and the plane sure didn’t seem to be struggling to break through this ceiling of clouds.
Suddenly, light broke through the window. We had made it through and had risen above the clouds. The entire view out the window was again dramatically different. Outside the window was as bright as the noon day sky. The clouds that once seemed to be a force to be reckoned with; once a ceiling that would keep us down and cause us to fight for altitude; once so dark and heavy, suddenly appeared light and fluffy. Were these the same clouds we just passed through? They lay below the plane like waves in the ocean softly rolling through the sky. Only about 5 to 10 minutes had passed, but the view was so vastly different and not one ounce of struggle along the way. It had been a smooth and uneventful ascension just like the pilot had announced.
I was immediately convicted. I had actually doubted the pilot’s weather update based on my view from the window. I had actually thought somehow my view from the window was more true than what the pilot knew. Suddenly God whispered to my heart, “You do the same with me sweet girl.” Oh my!! I sat with this thought racing through my mind this for the rest of the flight to Dallas. I thought about how often I take the Truth God speaks to me through His Word and filter it through my own view of my life or circumstances. I thought about the many times I have faced something that seemed like it would crush me only to look back on it and see how God effortlessly carried me through to the other side.
I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world ~John 16:33
Dark clouds can appear quickly and can seem to surround our lives in different situations. When they appear, how easy it is to forget what He Word promised and what He has already said to us. Our view of the circumstance seems so much more daunting and devastating, when in reality the “PILOT” already knows the “weather” ahead and is fully prepared for the journey. I wonder if we truly remember to tune into His “weather” announcements. Do we listen to Him as He informs us about what’s to come? Do we seek out His predictions and promises and hold fast to them as life’s circumstances try to sway us away from His Truth? He has given us a roadmap in His Word. He promises to be with us and walk with us through this journey of life. It’s a path He already knows for us. We simply need to stay in our seats, keep the seat belts fastened in case of turbulence, and pay attention to the updates He gives us throughout the journey. He has already overcome!
A Girl and Her God 