Completely Engulfed

For we walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7, KJV)

In the previous two blogposts, I wrote about observing an airplane flying in and out of a huge cloud. In my bible studies during writing those blogposts, God has shown me through His Holy Spirit, other life lessons that can be applied to the plane and the clouds.

You may recall this excerpt, 

"For a moment, I could see the whole plane. Moments later I couldn’t see the plane at all. And moments later, I could only see parts of the plane. Then the plane would come into full view again and repeat this process." 

Life can be a lot like this plane.

Over the course of our lives, we hit cloudy spots now and again. We are just minding our own business, flying through life then BAM, life gets cloudy.

Photo courtesy of Heather Allem (Henderson Colorado), thanks Heather!

Clouds may attempt to completely engulf us. Or at times, we fly into the clouds and right back out again.

How do we react when we are flying through life and unexpectedly find ourselves in clouds? (James 1:2-8)

We do precisely what the pilots of this plane did. When they found themselves engulfed in the cloud (mid-flight), unable to physically see anything but cloud, they didn’t abandoned their teaching, prior experience, and control panel. Had they panicked, the plane would have most likely crashed. 

Instead, they had complete faith in their plan to get them to their destination. They followed that plan and safely arrived…on time.

Likewise, we don’t abandon God and all He has been and is to us now just because life gets a little cloudy. We stay the course having complete faith in the fact (and His promise) that He will finish what he started. (Philippians 1:6, Psalm 51:10, Ephesians 6:13)


Lord God, as You well know, life gets cloudy sometimes. I pray for every reader who is currently "in the clouds". Your Word tells us, when we lack wisdom, we can ask You. In the name of Jesus, I pray for supernatural wisdom for every reader right now, to trust in You during cloudy times having complete faith without wavering, You will finish what You have started. When we are in a cloud, headed right for a cloud, or completely engulfed in the cloud...Your praise will continually be on our lips, thanking You for teaching us how to live by faith and not by sight!

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,  knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.  But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.  If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.  But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.  For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;  he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:2-8, NKJV)

"Indeed, our lives are guided by faith, not by sight." (2 Corinthians 5:7, GWT)

"for we are living a life of faith, and not one of sight." (2 Corinthians 5:7, WNT)

"That’s why we live with such good cheer. You won't see us drooping our beds or dragging our feet! Cramped conditions here don’t get us down. They only remind us of the spacious living conditions ahead. It’s what we trust in but don’t yet see that keeps us going. Do you suppose a few ruts in the road or rocks in the path are going to stop us? When the time comes, we’ll be plenty ready to exchange exile for homecoming." (2 Corinthians 5;7, MSG)

Some Days...

Some days, I don't want to write encouraging blog posts. Some days, I just want to forget everything I'm supposed to do and do whatever I feel like doing. Some days, I want to jump on the whining band wagon and "let'er fly"!

Today, I feel like griping and complaining. Yesterday was an extremely rough day. It started out great but quickly went south when I had to deal with some very serious work issues and then some extended family issues. And even though I spent most of the day in prayer (literally), things continued to go south until late last night. Wave upon wave. Smack upon smack. Knock upon knock. Well, I'm sure you've had those days so you get what I mean.

But then I'm reminded, I am in this world but not of it. I WILL NOT CONFORM! (Romans 12:2)

And I'm reminded, I live by what I know not by what I see or what I'm told! What do I know? Faith, Faith, and more faith! (2 Corinthians 5:7)

I'm also reminded not to complain about anything but with thanksgiving, prayer and supplication, make my requests known to Him! (Philippians 4:6)

For today's purposes, that's my version of Philippians 4:6. Other versions read, "anxious, worry, be careful for, be nothing solicitous (I found that one to be interesting and fun!). Complaining is often the result of being anxious, being filled with care, worrying, and being solicitous. (I am having so much fun with today's blog post!)

Last November, the LORD spoke to me and said, "Today is a new day. I make all things new."

Some days, He makes new things newer; for example, the days when everything is great (quite unlike my yesterday) and we wake up the next morning and can see...He is still making all things new!

Some days, He makes old things new; for example, the days when everything was like my yesterday but we wake up the next morning and can see...He is still making all things new!

Who God is and what He does is not affected by our circumstances.

He is always:
Good! (Psalm 100:5)
Present! (Hebrews 13:5)
The Same! (Hebrews 13:8)

Even though yesterday ended like it did, I continue to trust Him because I know that I know that I know, no matter how things look, He promised me, "Today is a new day. He makes all things new!"

My prayer for every reader today is to refuse to conform to the ways of the world and be continually transformed by the renewing of our mind! Refuse to walk by what we see and hear but continually and persistently walk by faith! Refuse to murmur and complain but in everything, everything, everything, make our requests known to God our Father with thanksgiving and praise! We thank You Father for always being so good to us! We thank You for always being with us! And we thank You for being our Rock, always being the same in an ever changing world! You are worthy of all our praise!