A Few Minutes of Turbulence
Years ago, I was on a flight to India with my father. We had been flying for about thirteen hours and still had a couple of hours to go. Up until that point, it had been a very smooth, comfortable flight. But suddenly, we hit some turbulence like nothing I had ever experienced before. It was like a roller coaster! The plane was going every which way. Food and bags were up on the ceiling. Then they would come down and go right back up again. For ten minutes, it was the wildest ride of my life. People were hollering. Babies were crying. That plane was shaking so violently you'd have thought it was going to break apart. And being the great man of faith that I am, I thought, "This is it! It's over. There is no way we're going to make it through." But sure enough after about ten minutes that seemed like an eternity, we made it through the turbulence, and it was just as calm and smooth as it was before. An hour or two later, we landed safely at our destination.
I've found that's the way it is in life sometimes. We're going along and everything is just fine—you have a good job, you're healthy, the children are blessed. Then you hit some turbulence. You get a negative medical report. A relationship goes through a storm. You're named in a lawsuit. Your mind tells you, "This is the way it's always going to be. You're never going to get well. That lawsuit is going to sink you. The relationship is never going to work out." No, let me assure you, you're just in a part of your "ten minutes of turbulence." Things may look really bad, but this too shall pass. God is still on the throne. He has brought you safe and sound this far, and He's going to carry you through. Just because it's rocky and people around you are hollering and you feel like panicking, doesn't mean it's over. Sooner or later you're going to come through that turbulence, and it's going to be just as smooth and calm as it was before.
Maybe you're going through your ten minutes of turbulence right now. I've heard it said, "Trouble is inevitable, but misery is optional." You may be in the midst of a storm, but don't let that storm get in you. The way you fight through is to keep your focus on Jesus. Keep singing His praise because praise precedes the victory. Hold on to Him and let Him carry you to the place of safety and peace today.
"…for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down!... So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:5-6 AMP).
I've found that's the way it is in life sometimes. We're going along and everything is just fine—you have a good job, you're healthy, the children are blessed. Then you hit some turbulence. You get a negative medical report. A relationship goes through a storm. You're named in a lawsuit. Your mind tells you, "This is the way it's always going to be. You're never going to get well. That lawsuit is going to sink you. The relationship is never going to work out." No, let me assure you, you're just in a part of your "ten minutes of turbulence." Things may look really bad, but this too shall pass. God is still on the throne. He has brought you safe and sound this far, and He's going to carry you through. Just because it's rocky and people around you are hollering and you feel like panicking, doesn't mean it's over. Sooner or later you're going to come through that turbulence, and it's going to be just as smooth and calm as it was before.
Maybe you're going through your ten minutes of turbulence right now. I've heard it said, "Trouble is inevitable, but misery is optional." You may be in the midst of a storm, but don't let that storm get in you. The way you fight through is to keep your focus on Jesus. Keep singing His praise because praise precedes the victory. Hold on to Him and let Him carry you to the place of safety and peace today.
"…for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down!... So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:5-6 AMP).