“We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.” II Corinthians 4:8-9

“When thou pass through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee...” Isaiah 43:2

“He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings you shall take refuge...” Ps 91:4

As it turned out, we did land safely...about 45 minutes later, at another location. We had sustained some serious storm damage and were met at the runway with fire trucks and emergency vehicles, as if they were expecting us to have a crash landing. But we didn’t care...we were just so glad to be on the ground, and glad to have made it through the storm in one piece!

After I recovered from the adrenaline of it all, I began to think about “life as a Christian” and how it doesn’t always end all nice and picturesque...like many try to portray. We don’t always stay in “one piece.”

For example, in the book “No Compromise” you can read the powerful and amazing story of Keith Green. A guy who, after living his young years totally for the world, gave his heart and life with reckless abandon to God. He had an experience and walk with God that many of us have never heard of, let alone experienced. And the amazing ways that God blessed and worked in Keith’s ministry are still not seen very often in the lives of Christian leaders today. Yet, at what would seem the pinnacle of his walk with God, and the pinnacle of his ministry (he was ministering to thousands of people) he too got in an airplane, and his airplane did not come safely down. It crashed killing him, two of his children, and many others.

His wife Melody could have given up in despair, and said, “That’s it God! I quit. You didn’t tell me that serving you in ministry was going to include this kind of loss and pain.” But Melody didn’t give up and she didn’t quit. She chose to press forward and trust God...even still. That crash happened over 25 years ago now, yet the ministry she and her husband started, “Last Day Ministries” is a thriving witness and outreach, even to this day.

And this is what we all must learn to do! Even when we don’t land safely, even when there is damage sustained, or when there is total destruction, we must learn to hold on to God, and trust Him, even still.

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12

Once we unite with Christ, we have all the powers of darkness arrayed against us, and while Christ promises victory (often here, but sometimes later!), there are many sacrifices and trials we may have to endure in the process.

Christ tells us in John 16:33, “In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world!”

He goes on to say further in Matt 24:9, “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and they shall kill you, and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name sake.”

Wow, “kill us, hate us?” That doesn’t sound like a very comfortable life! And yet...Christ encourages us... “Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in Heaven. For so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” Matt 5:12

If this is how God is training us to respond...in the face of death...How should we respond now, in the face of real life...a life that is often filled with disappointment,

heartbreak and pain. A life where everything doesn’t always turn out the way we think is right or go according to our plan?? A life that doesn’t always make sense.

How do we respond when someone we trusted (sometimes even respected Christian friends in ministry) wrong us...or worse yet, when they outright turn against us and betray us? Will we praise Him even still?

How do we respond when overwhelmed by the poverty, pain, and despair of thousands of homeless orphans, right outside our door? Will we seek His compassion and His heart even still?

As young women seeking to serve our King in the modern world, how do we respond when our choices for the “Set-Apart Life” are laughed at, mocked, and despised, sometimes even by “Christian friends.” Will we be faithful to Him even still?

When bad things happen, when hardships comes, when our sacrifice for Christ really begins to cost us? Will we take things into our own hands? Or will we be true to Him and trust Him...even still?

One of my favorite stories from Bible times is of the three young Hebrew friends that came one day to a great and dreadful test. Either they had to bow down and serve a pagan idol, or they would be cast into a fiery furnace. (We’ve all heard this story a hundred times and you can read about it in Daniel 3.) But do we really think about the depth of their response to that heathen king?? There was no indecision, no quaking in their boots, no thought about the choice they had to make. Their reply was firm and decided...

“O King, if it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand. But if not, be it known unto thee, O King, that we will not bow down and serve thy gods...”

We may be women of the modern day, but God is training us to have a faith just like these Christian young men of old! We must know our God so intimately that no matter the circumstance or trial we can trust Him and cling to Him...even still. Yes, even if He allows us to go into the burning fiery furnace. Even if he allows us to be burned.

“As it is written, for thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Yet, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.” Romans 8:36-37

Let us look beyond the pain

and trials of today and seek

for that better country,

where God will not be

ashamed to be our God!

Let us resolve now that

whatever comes, we will be

faithful and true to Him, and

we will praise Him....even still.

“Fear none of these things that will come upon you...but be faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown of life.” Revelation 2:10

“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” I Thessalonians 5:18

“For the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18  *

I’m a country girl from the Ozarks of Arkansas, currently serving as a "missionary" in Southern California. While a Registered Nurse by profession, most of my time is spent working with various youth ministries, overseas missions, orphan ministries, doing personal evangelism, and writing/blogging to encourage my friends in their walk with God. I love living the adventure of the "Set-Apart Life" and my greatest interest and passion is living daily for my King, and sharing the joy of this journey with others.

A BIT ABOUT the AUTHOR:

      hiking in the mountains  .  teddy bears  .  special dates with God

quiet streams  .  feeding a hungry child  .  heart-to-heart with girlfriends

                                 true love stories  .  morning sunshine

As I boarded the small airplane for my brief flight home, I knew it would be like any other routine flight. A few bumps, a few bounces, and we would safely touch down in the small city where I lived, less than an hour away. The fact that there were a few storms in the area didn’t worry me. I knew the pilots had everything under control. That is, until about 45 minutes later, as we were coming in for our landing.

Suddenly the plane began to shake and toss violently out of control. At first I figured it was no big deal and would quickly pass, but it only got worse. People began to cry and scream and pray. Fear filled my own heart as my life flashed before my eyes. “Were we about to crash? Was this the end?”

Quickly, I closed my eyes and began to pray earnestly... “God, I know you are in charge of this airplane! I’m scared to death right now, and I am afraid we are about to crash. But I trust you, and I just commit my life into your hands. Please take care of us...help me to stay calm...even if I’m about to die.”

The intensity of the situation increased, but suddenly a sweet peace filled my heart. The plane continued to rock and shake, and the engines continued to grind as if they could not handle the trauma they were being subjected to. “Get prepared because this is going to be a rough landing!!” my male seat partner squeaked, trying to hide the panic in his own voice. I didn’t bother to look out the window, but kept my eyes closed and

continued to pray. A few moments later, he piped up again. “Well, we missed the runway...looks like the pilot is trying to get some elevation to try again.”

It was no use, the second attempt failed as well. The storm was too strong and the plane was too out of control. I took a quick peek at my seat partner whose face was pale, then quickly closed my eyes again. The calmness that filled my own heart was kinda eerie in comparison with the shrieks and cries that seemed to surround me.  

I softly quoted Bible promises to myself as I prayed.

Were we about to crash?  Was this the end?

Dressing Set Apart