peace.

I recently took a flight and it was by the far the most turbulence I have ever experienced! I’m not even sure if turbulence is the right word here. It was more of a tossing the plane back and forth violently, people screaming, throwing up. . . that sort of thing.

I was on a smaller plane and sitting in the fourth row from the back, which didn’t help the situation. There was a storm that we encountered. You know it’s bad when the pilot gives a warning ahead of time that it’s going to be a rough flight and the flight attendants will remain in their seats the entire time. Buckle up! (Literally!)  It got so bad that people were accidentally hitting their call light buttons when being tossed around like popcorn kernels popping!

It was early morning, still dark outside, but flashes of lightning and high winds were all around. As the small metal contraption fought against being ripped apart, I tried to steady myself by holding on to the seat in front of me. I was crying out to the Lord, The One who sees me, to part this storm like He parted the red sea! I was also singing worship music and praising God for who He is. But even in this terrible storm, I knew I was not alone.

What lasted for what seemed like hours, there was suddenly a calmness. A break in the storm. I felt so much relief and thankfulness, and finally remembered to breathe. The pilot had rerouted our flight to go around the storm, tripling our flight time. At that moment, I had a feeling of what it truly feels like when peace comes about and my appreciation for it heightened. I could feel angels all around our plane and I found myself thanking God, verbally out loud.

I also learned that when there is chaos around us, when there truly is a storm in our lives attacking us, when there is a battle not against flesh and blood but against the spirits of the unseen world, that we can STILL have peace. It’s the peace that passes ALL understanding. This peace doesn’t make sense but it’s about WHO we turn to for our help, remembering who He is.

It doesn’t mean our hearts don’t race or fear doesn’t try to creep in. But, it means that God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. The battle has already been won. He calls us His own and if we have given Him our life, then we shall never perish. Nothing can snatch us from the palm of His hand. Our hope and future is in Him. And at the end of the day we know it’s going to be okay because we know who is in control.