Coming in Sideways

We’re finishing up another trip to the States of visiting friends, family, and churches and as I sit and process it all, I think it can be easily summed up by comparing it to our flights yesterday.

 

We were coming back from visiting my sister in Canada for Thanksgiving, and there were delays coming in and going out due to the first major snowstorm of the year pushing up the east coast. We had two flights to arrive at our destination for the night. One on a tiny express jet.

 

Did I mention a major cold front was pushing through? Cue turbulence. I’ve flown a lot, and I know that turbulence is really nothing to worry about. However, when I suddenly have the sensation of weightlessness as we are mid-air and pitching up and down, doubt quickly enters my mind. Being surrounded by a high thick cloud bank and not being able to see anything outside the plane also multiplied the anxiety. Whew. I am grateful that there was WiFi on the plane and I was able to distract myself by texting my sister who was watching the radar and encouraging me that we were moving through the worst of the weather and would soon push through the other side. 

 

The Pink Glow

 As we shook sideways and up and down, I glanced at the flight timer which       seemed to move in reverse. I felt like we should have landed an hour ago. Then I noticed the thick cloud bank outside the window started to have a pink glow…then  the pink started to turn red… and orange. This was a first for me. Without being able to see anything outside the window (like being in a thick fog), I started to consider which part of the plane must be on fire or if we had finally flown into the sun.

 

That’s when we broke through. Suddenly, we flew out of the cloud bank and what I saw next took my breath. The clouds parted and there were clouds above us and below us and in the middle it was COMPLETELY clear. The sky was painted in incredible reds, pinks, oranges, and yellows as the sun was setting over the horizon. It took my breath and IMMEDIATELY caused my soul to spontaneously worship. Tears filled my eyes. Wow. In my heart, I heard God whisper  “I’m here..  I’m still here… and passing through the storm is WORTH IT.” The sky cleared and the turbulence disappeared.

 

There are times when life is “lifing” extra hard. When we can’t see anything around us and we’re getting bounced all around. When the accelerations and decelerations have us spinning and worried about what is happening and we’re hoping that the worst is behind us. When doubt lurks in the back of our mind and we don’t know if we can make it to the other side. However, God is still with us. Even when we can’t see Him, or feel Him. He’s there in the storm with us and will be waiting for us on the other side when the skies clear.

 

This trip back to the States has had its unique challenges and amazing blessings, and God was in every moment of it. He was there in the hugs, the times of worship, time with family and friends, providing every step of the way. We still came in sideways to Reagan airport on our second flight, but we know that He was with us. We are so grateful for the opportunities to travel to visit our friends and family and are grateful when God so clearly reminds us of who He is in the midst all of it.