Sitting in the Belly of a Plane

As he stood in the airport that day, a crowd of people who looked distinctively different from him gathered in the boarding area and the sounds of a foreign language filled the air. He hoped, after several delays, that he would actually make it on the plane this time and soon arrive at his destination. The police had knocked on our door, yet again, this week . . . an ominous reminder that time was running out. The quick trip to the capital was a welcome break from the stress.

The thought occurred to him, “Am I trying to run away from the inevitable or simply following through with an already scheduled work meeting?”

As he left for the airport that day, I couldn’t help but wonder what our future in that place would look like. Though we were certain God had opened the door in this place, a place usually hostile to foreigners, we were also certain security had greatly tightened recently. When would our presence no longer be tolerated? When would we endanger those with whom we interacted?

The first knock on our door was terrifying. “Just a few questions,” they said. But the questions kept coming with the second and third knocks on our door, and the meetings soon transitioned from our house to the police station. The next big meeting was planned for the day after my husband returned from his trip. We had already discussed if he should just stay in town and skip out on the business meeting, but in the end, we decided he should try to honor as many commitments as possible, even in the midst of our uncertainty.

There he stood in the airport that evening, no doubt running through every possible scenario in his mind. He, too, wondering what we would endure over the next several weeks. Suddenly, an announcement came over the intercom saying the fog had lifted enough that they were going to try to take off. As the passengers boarded one by one, my husband couldn’t help but think of the two other times that day when they all boarded, only to turn around and deboard a little while later because of the weather.

This time, as they took their seats, he wondered if they would actually take off. And the thought struck, once again, that perhaps he was running like Jonah did, and he was the one actually responsible for holding up this entire flight of eager passengers. If only they would toss him overboard!

Though we knew God was on our side, we also wrestled with very real human emotions and had to constantly fight fear. The only thing that got us through those long months was a literal clinging to the Word of God. We would run to His Word every day and read His truths, as a balm to our fearful and uncertain souls. My husband had a piece of paper with his favorite verses typed out. He would read it over and over again . . .

Praying.

Asking.

Waiting.

We still have that piece of paper. It’s in tatters.

We read and meditated on certain verses so often, that they were seared in our hearts and minds. As he sat on that plane, under the cover of night, the verses flowed in unspoken prayers once again.

“Lord, Your will be done. Not mine. Give me strength. I know that You are good, even when our circumstances look dismal, and I know that You work for the good of those who love You and are called according to Your purposes.”

After a few more minutes of waiting, the pilot made another announcement. Surprise! The plane would not be taking off anytime soon because of the fog. They were going to wait a little while longer and give it another try.

When my husband stepped off the plane yet another time, he called me. The back and forth was exhausting and he said he was ready to come home, get some sleep, and face whatever was to come in the next day or two.

I kid you not, as he walked out of the airport, he heard them calling for all passengers to board the flight and prepare for take off. As he hopped in a taxi and made his way back home, the plane’s lights could be seen soaring in the city skyline. And shortly thereafter, his cellphone rang. It was the police calling to move the meeting up.

Jonah.

It’s not as though my husband was actively running from what the Lord called him to do, but he was definitely taking advantage of some extra time. But God didn’t want us to delay. He was asking us to be fully present in the moment. Face everything He had for us head on. In His strength, not ours. And fully trust Him.

I am not going to lie to you . . . that was a long night . . . as we waited.

That paper full of verses came back out and prayers went up.

During that stressful time, we tried to be faithful and make right decisions throughout it all. In hindsight, there are things that we both wish we had handled differently. But there was an undeniable peace as we faced the unknown together, answered countless questions, waited on the Lord, and eventually packed our bags and left this place we had called home.

Friends, God still uses all manner of things to accomplish His purposes.

Weather.

Flight schedules.

Authorities.

I fully believe He would still use the belly of a fish if He needed to!

If you get a little disoriented in the middle of His call and start heading the wrong direction, have no fear. He will stop at nothing . . . nothing . . . to point you in the right direction once again. You, too, will find yourself marveling in awe and wonder at God’s mercy . . . just like Jonah did when he cried out from the belly of a fish (Jonah 2:1, ESV).

And when He calls you to something hard. Really hard.

Something big.

Something scary.

Something unknown.

I also know, from personal experience, that He will provide what you need in that moment . . . and, most importantly, He will be with you every step of the way.

Just look to those in Scriptures who have gone before us and proven this true over and over again . . .

Stephen, when facing a raging mob of people who hated the truth he proclaimed, looked up and gazed directly into heaven, beheld the glory of God and saw Jesus standing at the right hand of the Father . . . even as the crowd picked up the first stones to kill him (Acts 7:55, ESV).

Daniel, when he refused to stop praying daily to the one, true God, was thrown into a den of lions and yet declared the following morning, “My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him” (Daniel 6:22, ESV).

And one of my favorites, Joshua. When facing impossible odds, led a rebellious and fearful people to obediently follow the Lord into a new land, standing boldly and confidently on the promises of the Lord, found in both Deuteronomy and Joshua.

“It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8, ESV

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9, ESV

Oh, friend, this is a promise that you can stake your life on. Leave the fear and worry and outcome to Him. We have only to obey . . . to obey with all confidence, for with Jesus’ final words He, too, promised, “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20, ESV).