I LOVE to fly — takeoff is my favorite part.
As soon as I hear those jet engines revving, I lean back in the seat, close my eyes and wait. I wait for the inevitable race down the runway. Pushed back in my seat by the speed, my heart beats a bit faster as the plane reaches the magic speed that allows it to go from rushing down the runway to soaring into the clouds. I wait for that moment when the wheels leave the runway and we’re flying. I love the sensation.
I don’t doubt we’re going to make it off the runway — I don’t doubt that we’ll climb high above the clouds. I just lean back and trust that long, metal cylinder with wings. I trust it to take me thousands of feet into the air. I don’t understand how the whole air flight thing works — and yes, I know it’s lift and speed, yada, yada, — but I just trust that it does work. That’s enough for me.
And yes, I know that engines fail, pilots make mistakes, and airplanes fall from the sky. And still I pay money to take this ride.
If only I would lean back and trust God. If only I would trust Him to take me from running on the ground to soaring above the clouds. I know who He is and I trust His will for my life, but it’s the leaning back part that I can’t seem to master. Instead of enjoying the ride, I want to understand the process.
I want to know why, where, how and when — and I want to know it all now. I struggle to rest in Him because I want to control the destination –I want to know where we are going, why we are going this way, how we are getting there and when we’ll arrive.
But I want to soar with Him more than I want to know all the details, so I’m learning to lean back and enjoy the ride because I know He has a great adventure for me, if only I’ll trust Him. I’m walking out the Proverb:
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
It’s not easy for me — the girl who loves to CONTROL everything, but it’s incredibly liberating. I just take the next step and leave the rest up to Him.
What about you? Are you leaning back and trusting God even when you don’t know where you’re headed?
It’s so interesting that you should post this today. Yesterday, I was looking for a particular photo in an album from a trip to Maui a few years back. I ran across the pictures in that album of our zip-line tour across the gaping mouth of a gorge, some 250-300 feet in the air. Me, attached to a little seat, attached to a metal clip, attached to a cable, and shoved from one side toward the safety waiting on the other.
I wasn’t scared at all. AT ALL.
Complete and total trust.
I wrote a piece along the very same lines as this post, which I dug around to find after the photos brought it to mind. Reading yours on the heels of reading mine drives home the glaring reality of my lack of trust in this season of my life.
Where, oh where have I been keeping my faith?
Oh Mary!! I can so relate! We are in a waiting season…waiting for God’s plan to unfold financially. While we trust that “He’s got this…” we’re finding it difficult to be patient…or to sit back and “enjoy” the ride. Because, honestly…the ride is getting hard!! BUT GOD!!! God’s promises to my family, His faithfulness and our belief that He will see us through, outweigh all the “why’s”. We really believe this is a season that will prove to others the power of God and His faithfulness to His children. Hoping we will continue to sit back and enjoy the ride and watch His plan unfold. Praying you trust with all your heart and lean not on your understanding but lean on Him. Blessings!!