Finding Peace When Life Feels Out of Control
Adapted from: Facing Turbulence by Sam Holm
Ever felt like your life is in a nosedive? Maybe you're gripping the armrests, heart pounding, wondering if you'll make it through the storm. Life's turbulence—whether it's loss, overwhelming stress, or uncertainty about tomorrow—can leave us feeling helpless and afraid.
Picture this: You're on your first flight, already nervous because you know planes can crash. Then the pilot announces thunderstorms ahead. Suddenly, you're dropping through downdrafts, stomach in your throat, while someone behind you screams, "We're gonna die!" That's exactly how Jesus' disciples felt in John 14. Their world was collapsing—betrayal, denial, and Jesus announcing He was leaving them. Talk about turbulence.
Yet in that moment of chaos, Jesus spoke words that still echo through centuries: "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me" (John 14:1). He wasn't dismissing their pain. He was offering them something stronger than their circumstances.
What You Need to Know When Life Gets Hard
1. Where am I headed when life ends?
Jesus reminded His followers that this turbulent world isn't the end of the story. "In my Father's house are many rooms," He promised. "I go to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2). For those who trust Him, paradise with Jesus is the guaranteed destination. Death is the ultimate turbulence we all face, but it can't steal the hope of those who believe in Him.
2. How do I get there?
Here's the truth some find uncomfortable: Jesus declared, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). You can't walk to the moon, and you can't earn your way to God. We need a Savior, not a self-help plan. And that's actually good news—because if salvation depended on us, we'd mess it up every time. Jesus isn't one option among many. He's already paid for your ticket with His life, death, and resurrection.
3. What do I do when life gets turbulent right now?
Stop trying to fly the plane yourself. Surrender control to Jesus and let Him navigate your storms. Then call for help. Jesus promised, "Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do" (John 14:13). He's inviting you to ask Him to work through your life—not for selfish gain, but to do His work for God's glory. Imagine what could happen if you stopped white-knuckling your way through life and instead asked for His help daily.
A Real Story of Trust
Three years after a conversation on a plane about faith, a man named Henry sent an email: "I always thought that religion was about doing good in your life prior to making it to the Pearly gates. Having now read the book, I now realize that it is almost impossible to do good. No one is perfect. We all make mistakes... While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. He forgave us. Only the forgiven go to heaven."
Henry continued: "It makes sense. I think God is leading me to make a decision and surrender my life to Jesus."
That's the shift—from trying to be good enough to trusting that Jesus is good enough for you.
Your Next Step
Are you ready to stop piloting your own plane? Maybe today is the day you trust Jesus for the first time, surrendering your life to Him. Or perhaps you've believed for years but you've been trying to navigate turbulence alone.
Either way, Jesus is inviting you to trust Him fully—not just for eternity, but for today's challenges. You don't need perfect faith. You just need enough faith to get on the plane. Once you're on board, the pilot will get you where you need to go.
The turbulence in your life—the pain, the stress, the uncertainty—doesn't have to define you. When you know your destination is secure and your pilot is trustworthy, even the worst storms can't steal your peace.
So what's causing turbulence in your life right now? Whatever it is, you don't have to face it alone. Trust the pilot. Call for help. And discover that the One who loves you most is already preparing a place for you—and He's more than capable of getting you through today's storm.
Ready to take the next step? Reach out to someone at your local church, explore what it means to follow Jesus, or simply start a conversation with God today. The journey begins with trust.
Ever felt like your life is in a nosedive? Maybe you're gripping the armrests, heart pounding, wondering if you'll make it through the storm. Life's turbulence—whether it's loss, overwhelming stress, or uncertainty about tomorrow—can leave us feeling helpless and afraid.
Picture this: You're on your first flight, already nervous because you know planes can crash. Then the pilot announces thunderstorms ahead. Suddenly, you're dropping through downdrafts, stomach in your throat, while someone behind you screams, "We're gonna die!" That's exactly how Jesus' disciples felt in John 14. Their world was collapsing—betrayal, denial, and Jesus announcing He was leaving them. Talk about turbulence.
Yet in that moment of chaos, Jesus spoke words that still echo through centuries: "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me" (John 14:1). He wasn't dismissing their pain. He was offering them something stronger than their circumstances.
What You Need to Know When Life Gets Hard
1. Where am I headed when life ends?
Jesus reminded His followers that this turbulent world isn't the end of the story. "In my Father's house are many rooms," He promised. "I go to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2). For those who trust Him, paradise with Jesus is the guaranteed destination. Death is the ultimate turbulence we all face, but it can't steal the hope of those who believe in Him.
2. How do I get there?
Here's the truth some find uncomfortable: Jesus declared, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). You can't walk to the moon, and you can't earn your way to God. We need a Savior, not a self-help plan. And that's actually good news—because if salvation depended on us, we'd mess it up every time. Jesus isn't one option among many. He's already paid for your ticket with His life, death, and resurrection.
3. What do I do when life gets turbulent right now?
Stop trying to fly the plane yourself. Surrender control to Jesus and let Him navigate your storms. Then call for help. Jesus promised, "Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do" (John 14:13). He's inviting you to ask Him to work through your life—not for selfish gain, but to do His work for God's glory. Imagine what could happen if you stopped white-knuckling your way through life and instead asked for His help daily.
A Real Story of Trust
Three years after a conversation on a plane about faith, a man named Henry sent an email: "I always thought that religion was about doing good in your life prior to making it to the Pearly gates. Having now read the book, I now realize that it is almost impossible to do good. No one is perfect. We all make mistakes... While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. He forgave us. Only the forgiven go to heaven."
Henry continued: "It makes sense. I think God is leading me to make a decision and surrender my life to Jesus."
That's the shift—from trying to be good enough to trusting that Jesus is good enough for you.
Your Next Step
Are you ready to stop piloting your own plane? Maybe today is the day you trust Jesus for the first time, surrendering your life to Him. Or perhaps you've believed for years but you've been trying to navigate turbulence alone.
Either way, Jesus is inviting you to trust Him fully—not just for eternity, but for today's challenges. You don't need perfect faith. You just need enough faith to get on the plane. Once you're on board, the pilot will get you where you need to go.
The turbulence in your life—the pain, the stress, the uncertainty—doesn't have to define you. When you know your destination is secure and your pilot is trustworthy, even the worst storms can't steal your peace.
So what's causing turbulence in your life right now? Whatever it is, you don't have to face it alone. Trust the pilot. Call for help. And discover that the One who loves you most is already preparing a place for you—and He's more than capable of getting you through today's storm.
Ready to take the next step? Reach out to someone at your local church, explore what it means to follow Jesus, or simply start a conversation with God today. The journey begins with trust.
Posted in New Testament
Posted in Easter, Good Friday, Ash Wednesday, Lent, Fasting, Prayer, Last Supper, Jesus, Disciples, Teaching, Upper Room, Plane, Fly, Trouble, Airplane, Help, Pilot, Trust, Grace, Ask, Pray
Posted in Easter, Good Friday, Ash Wednesday, Lent, Fasting, Prayer, Last Supper, Jesus, Disciples, Teaching, Upper Room, Plane, Fly, Trouble, Airplane, Help, Pilot, Trust, Grace, Ask, Pray
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