Turbulence

In that picture it may look like I am smiling, but behind that is a girl in utter terror.

Last week my husband so graciously sent me on a week get away to surprise a dear friend. Since March I have not been without my kiddos at all. In a previous blog I explained how this isn’t a complaint, but obviously it’s not “normal” for me. The social aspect of life was even more isolated since Covid, as Jared and I couldn’t go out on dates, no coffee with girlfriends for me, or even a grandparent sleepover for the kiddos. Jared is one of the most selfless, hardworking people I’ve ever met, and yet sends me to have a vacation. With the circumstances we’re currently living in my original flight was cancelled, and a new one scheduled for a few days later. As I sat in the airport waiting to board, I over heard a woman talking about a storm, and another gentleman mention a tropical storm, yet nothing connected in my mind at that moment. Now I’m on the flight and about an hour out from landing, and the pilot comes on and states that we will be feeling some turbulance, but shouldn’t take long to get through. I’ve flown a lot, even internationally, and through the Alaskan mountains, so I knew it was going to be easy breezy compared to that. It was just that, over quickly. Before long it was time to land, we felt the plane descending, the girls next to me excited as they can see lightning as we fly through the grey clouds, and then bam...turbulence. When I say that I mean TURBULENCE! We were not warned at all! Not just small shakes, but woman and children screaming, shouts of fear that we’re all going to die, tears, and a weird silence as you seen hands griping the seats. My eyes shut instantly, as my prayers rose. Lord, you know, please keep us safe, Lord I AM scared, I AM worried, calm me Lord. Lord if this is it, then I can’t wait to be with you, BUT please not yet. I have so much unfinished. As we are getting ready to land the pilot came on and said I’m going back up, we have been told it’s unsafe to land, we’re going to find an airport that’s safe to land. Heart sunk. Worry rose as fast as my prayers did, if not faster. Side note, all those back home closest to me know that whenever I fly if possible, I call, or visit, and let them know I love them and that this may be the last time they see me. Trust me, many laugh at me, and Jared thinks I’ve lost it, but I do it anyway, and truly it’s become a habit I do more than anything. It’s funny even to myself, but now feel I have to do it like an athlete who wears the same socks every game to win. Jared reminds me that I’m more likely to die in a car crash than a plane, but again it’s my thing. So as this is happening, I’m kinda chuckling inside more like a fear chuckle, telling God how funny He is because this is how He truly is going to take me. Sounds terrible, even worse as I share it, but God and I have a cool relationship like that. He’s super funny in my life, and to me it wouldn’t be a surprise for Him to take me home that way. Not only that but the storm we were in was called tropical Christobol. Seriously?!?! Funny! Some know that I don’t fear death. Some get really annoyed by that, you know who you are. Sometimes I can’t wait honestly. God truly convicted me through this on that flight as I was not being an example of the peace I proclaim

about death. Healthy fear is wise, and God wants us to be wise, but what had happened to me was fear of unknown, fear of crashing, and fear of how it was going to end. My prayers were selfish motivated.

“Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭4:1‬ ‭

Turbulence in life comes from more than just a bad plane ride. It comes out in our relationships we have, but mostly through our walk of sanctification. Marriages are up and down, friends come and go, jobs are lost, pandemics strike, and God isn’t doing a great job steering our ”plane” in our eyes. The question we need to ask ourselves is this, are we resting in the ride God has us on? Or do we tend to grip the arm rests more often than not, and doubt the landing God has planned for us. Jared and I have had the most insane plane ride. It’s been filled with doubt, heartache, fear, and that’s just some of its turbulence. The key is we try to get out those turbulent rides as quickly as possible. There’s always a common pilot during those rides and it’s always us. Thats why there will be turbulence. When we get back to the seat that we’re called to then there’s smooth flying from then on. So we always ask ourselves why do we always grab the yoke? Isn’t it funny how in aircrafts the steering mechanism is called a yoke? Are you seeing how funny He is? Moments when I learn things like how He named the steering on a plane a yoke, I was like of course He did, God is hilarious. God always nails things home, yet we still miss it. He always wants to carry the weight of our sins, but we think we can handle better than the Creator.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:28-30‬ ‭

After we had safely landed at another airport an instant peace came over me. Then fear, shame, and guilt took over. Like a lot. I proclaim to not fear death, but at that very moment there was fear. Fear of the unknown, even though I know. Fear of my kids losing a mom, even though they would be cared for. Fear of the pain I would feel crashing in a plane, even though I would be free from pain. Then the shame. Shame of the lack of trust. Shame of the doubt. Shame of the dimmed light I was shining. Followed by guilt. Guilt I ever doubted. Guilt in the fear and shame. Guilt for selfish prayers. Guilt for feeling guilt.

God uses many turbulent situations in our walk to see where our trust is. When we go through these moments in our life we need to be evaluating where we go to for peace. God wants to be the pilot not our co pilot. My flesh was in charge at that moment, not the Lord. My hands were all over the yoke, yet I had no control. That’s the same in our lives with anything that we can’t find peace or rest in. If we truly evaluate the situation we’re in, relationships, or burden, it tends to be because we are trying to fly solo and not allow God in the plane or even his hands anywhere near the yoke.

“Behold, if the river is turbulent he is not frightened; he is confident though Jordan rushes against his mouth.”

‭‭Job‬ ‭40:23‬ ‭

My old boss owns a plane, one time I had finally agreed to go up for a ride. This took probably a year to agree to. That was a healthy fear riding with him as he is a bit, let’s say distracted. Great human, but distracted. It was on a whim and he caught me in a mood like sure let’s do this! Once I was getting on the plane I did my texts to some family and friends ( yes I did ), I mean my chances increased as this was a little two seater plane. You always read or see about these crashing in fields! Back to the story, so we take off, it was great, then I realized he had to land this sometime, and I wasn’t really ready for that on such a small piece of metal. As were scenically flying over lake Michigan it was truly great. Then he says put your hands on the steering, and I said why, he proceedsd to say you‘re gonna fly this thing. Many of my readers know my boss, and know this is so him. It’s why many love him, but also why many have that healthy fear. My voice was scared as I said no John please no, no no no! Then he let go. I was in control, but far from it. There was a sliver of a windshield and I couldn’t see, because I’m so short first off, and the seats are low. All I kept saying is I don’t know where I am going, and he just kept repeating you don’t need to look forward look out your side window and stay horizontal with the skyline. What seemed like a lifetime was probably a few minutes, but I had done it. With God we can’t see ahead, we act like we can, but He wants us just to look at Him and nowhere else. With my recent flight my eyes were on the outcome of the turbulence, but not on Jesus. Am I thankful He had a different outcome, yes. Am I grateful for His grace, yes. These are moments though where I need to remember Lindsay isn’t a good pilot at all, not even mediocre. So I need to learn how to step out the way and let the true pilot have the yoke.

“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:14‬ ‭

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:35‬ ‭

In closing, I had to think of how I was the opposite of an example of Christ to the two teens who didn’t know me. They seen a woman scared, maybe gasp a few times and gripping her seat. When we have turbulent times in our life, who around sees Christ or do they see a sin pattern? God uses little things like a terrible plane ride to still grow and seek Him. At times we tend to wait for “big” situations to seek Him. If we look daily for application there will be all sorts of ways God can grow us. The problem is that it’s not comfortable and who wants to be out of their comfort zone? I challenge myself and my readers to ask God to take you from your comfort, and stretch you to heights only He can pilot you to! God is an amazing pilot and He will take us to places our minds couldn’t even fathom!

“For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:6

Prayer for Today,

Lord I praise you for your hand in safety. I ask that you please work in me a heart of security in who you are. Break me of anything of me. Lord continue to loosen my grip on the yoke of life. Let me know you are a way better pilot than myself. Father God forgive me for selfish prayers and selfish heart. Forgive me for not trusting your process! Lord I truly do love you and only want to do your will, but I’m a mess at times. Thanks for forgiveness and love you always extend to me. Challenge us to get out the drivers seat and look to you in all thing. Lord I love you. More than my words can speak. In your sons holy and precious name Amen

By His grace,

Lindsay Storm