Pastor's Ponderings, September 30, 2019

Sudden Turbulence In Life’s Journey

Recently, my wife and I got on a plane and we had prayed that we would have a peaceful and safe flight.  As the plane took off, I looked out of the window, the ground was slipping away, the plane was powering toward the sky, and everything was normal. We were in the blue sky, above the white clouds and all seemed right in the world.

Suddenly the plane began to run into turbulence and the plane began to bounce and rock.  It was no longer peaceful, no longer normal and nothing was right in the world.  But we remembered that we had prayed and thought we would have been able to avoid this turbulence.  What was wrong? Suddenly the turmoil stopped and all was peaceful again. God was faithful and answered our prayers.

This mirrors what happens in many of our lives. We specifically pray or ask that something we fear will not happen and it happens anyway. We wonder, “Was God even listening or does He care?” God wants us to know that even though we don’t always get what we ask for and sometimes get exactly what we didn’t ask for, He still promises to be with us and never leave us.

In the Bible, it assures us that if we call upon Him, He will answer us in our times of trouble (Psalm 91:5). He has proven in the great and small things that He is a faithful God who makes certain that His promises succeed in our lives (Jeremiah 1:12).  God says that in spite of all the challenges that you may face, He is there to help (Psalm 46:1, 2). Naturally, He doesn’t want us to treat Him simply as a “Get out of trouble card,” but He wants us to be welcome to talk to Him about everything and let His peace rule us in a world of suffering and pain (Colossians 3:15).

God wants us to know that He is greater than any turbulence in our lives.  Although we respect out leaders, admire our scholars, and have confidence in our scientists, let us look to Him when sudden troubles arise.  He will always be there to comfort us.

Psalm 91:5
New International Version (NIV)
5 He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.

Jeremiah 1:12
New International Version (NIV)

12 The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.”

Psalm 46:1, 2
New International Version (NIV)

1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

Colossians 3:15
New International Version (NIV)

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.