Recently, I was privileged to be a part of a school accreditation team for the Association of Christian Schools International and visited a school north of Seattle, Washington (Yikes! I know, epicenter of Coronavirus!). We managed to accomplish our work without incident and I boarded a plane in Seattle to fly back to Redmond, just in time for a spring snow storm!
When we arrived over the airport in Redmond, visibility was extremely limited and passengers were experiencing unsettling turbulence. Checking my seatbelt, I looked out my window into total darkness! I knew that the pilot would have to make an instrument landing. I set up stiff in my seat, holding my breath, and saying a prayer for the pilot.
The pilot would have to rely on the watchful direction of the people in the tower to guide our plane to a safe landing. I did not want the people in the tower to be unsure. I did not want them to say to the pilot, “Oh, well, just land anyway you want. We don’t think your speed or altitude matter.” My return home was dependent on them giving the pilot explicit directions AND him obeying them! He must have been sweating bullets as he trusted the voices on the radio and his instrument panel when he no visibility. The runway was rapidly approaching and a decision was immediate!
The parallel for our personal lives is obvious. We are experiencing unprecedented turbulent times in our world, country, town, and homes!
What voice(s) are we listening to?
Who will we trust to guide us when visibility for the future is unclear?
I want my eyes to be laser focused on God and His Word. Where is our help?
“I lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip- he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD watches over you – the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm – he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore!” Psalm 121.
Fortunately, the pilot listened well to the direction of the tower and kept his eyes on the plane’s instrument panel because we landed safely in Redmond, albeit a bit turbulent and rocky! A “cowboy” landing, some would say! Walking down the gangplank and into my husband’s waiting arms, I thanked the Lord for His protection and for our pilot’s wisdom.
During such turbulent times, we must keep our eyes on the One in the watchtower, He is providing direction through the instrument of His Word! Trust Him, He is our hope and safety.
