I asked my son, a pilot, how to fly through turbulence. He did not say to throw your arms up in the air and leave your fate in the hands of the elements. Nor did he suggest cursing God, the wind, or pilots flying other planes. Not helpful. Rather, he spoke about moving through the turbulence, and the possibility of landing in a new place.
It sounds like good advice for dealing with our own turbulence. In addition to our personal struggles, we wake up every day to headlines of shocking new trade policies, volatile reactions, public name-calling, uncertainty, and angst. We’re in turbulent times and it brings out the worst in us. We might want to throw our hands in the air and put our heads in the sand. That’s what I feel like doing. Or we may want to join the name-calling and curse our enemies, which includes the people we considered friends, only weeks ago. That makes me sad.
Where do we turn for help? Let’s go to our Bibles, and drink in God’s timeless words to us. We’re making our way through the Book of Ephesians in this blog series currently, and we just landed in the final portion of chapter three, where there is really timely counsel. Let’s consider these two …
1 – Move Through Turbulence
As we look to Ephesians 3:14, we find the mighty Apostle Paul down on his knees.
I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derive its name. Ephesians 3:14-15 (NIV)
He was praying earlier and he’s at it again. Paul is in prison, oppressed by his own religious and political leaders for proclaiming the grace, freedom, and unity to be found in Christ. The people he is praying for navigate volatile and violent circumstances.
Paul demonstrates that we can be recipients of God’s good gifts and yet live in turbulent times. He models moving through chaos and turbulence in prayer. We, too, can petition God. On our knees, on our feet, on the way to work, in the hospital, in sorrow, grief, anxiety, anger … with freedom and confidence.
2 – Land in a New Place
What do we pray for? What does Paul pray for?
Paul prays for inner strength. While I am inclined to pray that God will remove the obstacles that I face, Paul challenges me to pray for strength to fly through the turbulence. He opens my eyes to the idea that I can navigate through challenges, with an inner strength empowered by the Spirit.
In turbulent times, my flight plan and the outcomes I hold tight-fisted may need to change. With God as my pilot, I may need to veer off my route and find a new place to land. Could it be that my former path was too safe, too easy, and it would be difficult for me to grow in faith and inner strength, on such a comfortable route?
Resources to Help
inSPIRE® Resources and Retreats prepare us for turbulence. They challenge us to change. We learn God-principles, life-rhythms, and tools to navigate the storms that will come. I am in such anticipation, as I pray in faith, with Paul, that God may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christs may dwell in your hearts by faith. Faith and witness for a whole, messy, turbulent life.
A Song to Sing
Our blog editor, Karen, shares this powerful song with us, a moving and fitting conclusion, to help us Stand Firm in Turbulent Times. Just click the image to play.
What is God saying to you about navigating these turbulent times?