CRASHING FROM 16,000 FEET
On January 5, a door plug from an Alaska Airlines flight blew out at 16,000 feet near Portland, Oregon. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured. However, a few items were sucked out of the airplane, including a passenger’s iPhone.
Three days later, the phone was found by a Portland pedestrian, Sean Bates. The phone was still in airplane mode, showing a baggage receipt. Incredibly, Bates stated the phone was perfectly intact and had “no scratches on it.” (https://thehill.com/homenews/4396098-alaska-air-1282-man-finds-passengers-iphone-says-its-perfectly-intact-after-falling-from-sky/)
When I first heard this, my initial thought was, “If Apple doesn’t use this in a commercial, they’re missing out big time.” Then it occurred to me, this story is a picture of how God works in our lives.
As much as we wish the Lord would step in and prevent bad things from happening to us, at times we all find ourselves metaphorically sucked out of an airplane at 16,000 feet. Perhaps it’s a sudden job loss, the end of a relationship, or in my case, the death of a spouse. Your world as you’ve known it comes to a crashing halt, as you hit the ground from 16,000 feet. There’s nothing you can do to change the situation, as you lay there in shock. You need someone to rescue you.
Throughout scripture we witness God delivering his heroes, not from tragedy, but in tragedy. Psalm 34 describes David in Gath, Goliath’s home town. Years after slaying the giant, he must still have been number-one on the Philistines’ most-wanted list. His reward poster hung on every telephone pole. But God saved him. In verse four David wrote, “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.”
From the introduction to this Psalm we learn the Lord didn’t swoop down and prevent David from experiencing trouble. Instead, he saved him in the midst of his troubles. First Samuel 21:10-15 shows how God allowed David to go through this harrowing ordeal before rescuing him.
I can testify to the truth of this Psalm in real life. I agonized for months, watching my wife slowly slip away, and God delivered me. Did he rescue me in the way I wanted? No! But his presence sustained me—and still does. Yes, I feel as if I’ve fallen 16,000 feet, but the Lord caught me, and holds me close to his heart, comforting and strengthening me each day. He does the same for each of us.
Principle: God doesn’t rescue us from our troubles, but he delivers us in the midst of our troubles.
Ponder:
When have you experienced God’s hand of rescue?
From what situation(s) do you currently need God to rescue you?
Pursue: For a deeper dive, study Psalm 34.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, even in the midst of fear and sorrow, I know you are with me and will rescue me.