The Storm

July 1, 2015

Years ago, I was gripped as I listened to a minister who for several years had faithfully served the church. His work had taken him all over this country. As he concluded his message, he told of one of the most frightening yet thought-provoking experiences of his life.

He had been on a long flight from one place to another. The first warning of the approaching problems came when the sign on the airplane flashed on: Fasten your seat belts. Then, after a while, a calm voice said, "We shall not be serving the beverages at this time as we are expecting a little turbulence. Please be sure your seat belt is fastened."

As he looked around the aircraft, it became obvious that many of the passengers were becoming apprehensive. Later, the voice of the announcer said, "We are so sorry that we are unable to serve the meal at this time. The turbulence is still ahead of us."

Then the storm broke. The threatening cracks of thunder could be heard even above the roar of the engines. Lightening lit up the darkening skies, and within moments that great plane was like a cork tossed around on a heavenly ocean. One moment the airplane was lifted on terrific currents of air; the next, it dropped as if it were about to crash.

The minister confessed that he shared the discomfort and fear of those around him. He said, "As I looked around the plane, I could see that nearly all the passengers were upset and alarmed. Some were praying. The future seemed gloomy, and many were wondering if they would make it through the storm.

Then, I suddenly saw a little girl. Apparently the storm meant nothing to her. She had tucked her feet beneath her as she sat on her seat; she was reading a book, and everything within her small world was calm and orderly. Sometimes she closed her eyes, and then she would read again; then she would straighten her legs, but worry and fear were not in her world. When the plane was being rocked by the terrible storm, when it tilted this way and that, as it rose and fell with frightening severity, when all the adults were scared half to death, that marvelous child was completely composed and unafraid." The minister could hardly believe his eyes.

It was not surprising therefore, that when the plane finally reached its destination and all the passengers were hurrying to disembark, our minister lingered to speak to the girl whom he had watched for such a long time. Having commented about the storm and behavior of the plane, he asked why she had not been afraid.

The sweet child replied, "Sir, my Dad is the pilot, and he is taking me home."

There are many kinds of storms that rock our world -- physical, mental, financial, domestic, and many other storms can easily and quickly darken our skies and throw our mind into apparently uncontrollable movement. We have all known such times, and let us be honest and confess, that it is much easier to be at rest when our feet are on the ground than when we are being tossed about a darkened sky.

While we are going through those times, let us also remember: our Father is the Pilot. He is in control and He is taking us home.

John 14:1-6 says: Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? ⁶  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

 

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