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“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom” (Isaiah 40:28).
Recently I heard a message on one of my favorite radio stations, Bott Radio Network, that was simply relatable. The pastor opened his message by sharing a story about a little boy who was on a trip by way of an airplane. Midflight, the well-known "ding" chimed, with an announcement followed by the pilot stating they would be heading into some significant turbulence. Everyone obeyed as they were instructed to quickly return to their seats and fasten their seatbelts. Sure enough, the plane began to rattle and sway, and people were getting quite anxious and even afraid. As the pilot regained control of a situation that felt uncontrollable, there was a little boy seated next to an older woman who was in a panic. The little boy remained calm and collected, and the woman made a comment to him about his remarkable composure. She even asked if he was at all afraid. His simple and nonchalant response was, "Why would I be afraid? My dad is the pilot."
I think it is safe to say the majority of us are feeling the effects of a lot happening in our church and school currently — or just the everyday world around us. Whether it be excitement, eagerness, uncertainty, or even unfamiliarity, there are many blessings along the way. Sure, there are many changes and challenges, and God is, and always will be, working in and through all of it. Although the church [militant] here on earth is constantly under attack, we must be reminded and take comfort knowing it is God's church, and He will protect it and will protect us. Our Father: the pilot of our lives.
Our church is not perfect — no church is — but by the grace of God, may we see the beauty displayed through the lives of the people who fill it now and those who will one day fill it. Things change; the people and the atmosphere of the church will change, but God does not (Hebrews 13:8). We must realize that God is always working in our everyday affairs and in the people all around us. Faithful, just, and omnipresent, God is way too significant and to be restricted to one certain space. He knows us; He sees us; He is with us and for us. The perfect pilot's presence and power means we will face nothing alone.
It's likely that each of us has spent a season in the turbulence or even wilderness. Perhaps the wandering has even lasted a generation for your family or your neighbor's. But our Exodus moments happen together. May we continue to gather, confess with one another, and walk with the many children of the light (Ephesians 5:8). Let us not allow our inevitable and sinful nature to keep us from the Church; rather, it should motivate us to gather together as the Body of Christ to truly repent with one another. We should be running to church, to Jesus, regardless of parking, space constraints, relationships, or simply put, sin — run to Him, knowing we get to repent, having confidence in His forgiveness — while also forgiving one another and ourselves. We are not an exception to God's incredible, unending grace. We will never need to prove we are worthy or good enough; that is impossible. Our Savior lived a perfect life on our behalf, because He knew we could not. We must not minimize what Jesus did for us. Leave those sins at His feet. Release them to Him so that we can have a completion of joy (John 17:13); that is what He died for. Beloved, be loved.
Our God is bigger than any of our worries, any of our loneliness, any of our fears, and any of our sin. Take comfort; He will always make good. Unchanging, unwavering — God is bigger.
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