My husband Bill is a pilot. He doesn’t fly for a living but got his license years ago for the pure pleasure of being able to soar through the air and see the world from a completely different vantage point. Because of that, from time to time, I get the opportunity to travel with him and take to the skies.
I remember one of our trips where we took off in overcast conditions—perfectly safe since Bill has his instrument rating, but not what I would consider a beautiful day by any stretch of the imagination. As our wheels left the runway and we began to ascend, the looming clouds overhead grew nearer and nearer. It became obvious to me that we would soon be right in their midst.
At first, the view out my window began to blur, obscuring the landscape below. Within minutes we were fully engulfed in the thick, dense air—surrounded by complete white. Nothing was visible in any direction. I could no longer distinguish up from down and I had no idea where we were headed. Thankfully, my pilot was entirely unshaken by our position. He had anticipated it and was navigating without concern. If I hadn’t had complete trust in his skills before, I knew in that moment that I was totally in his care.
We continued to ascend through our bumpy surroundings, eventually popping through the top side of the cloud bank and emerging into clear skies. We were in the presence of the sun, soaring above the clouds with a new, clear perspective on the world. It was beautiful.
Haven’t we all faced situations that have felt like those clouds—unexpected, rugged and overwhelming? Challenging times when our circumstances enveloped us to the point where we couldn’t seem to see anything else. Truth is, everyone travels through cloudy times. The question is, what do you do when you’re in one? Do you fret and fear because you can’t tell which way is up and you don’t know how to navigate?
The good news is that you are never alone in the clouds. No matter how thick and fierce they may be, God is with you moment by moment—neither surprised nor shaken by the turn of events. He knows how to see you through the turbulence. Trust Him. Wait on Him. He will help you soar above your situation. And there, in His presence, He will give you the right perspective and the strength you need to complete your journey.
“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” - Isaiah 41:10