It was a typical late summer afternoon in the Midwest. My working partner, whom also does missionary work, said it looked like a perfect afternoon to go flying. I agreed and
suggested we fly down to Reelfoot Lake, Tennessee, eat supper at the lodge and watch the eagles. We called our wives and they gave us their blessing. I called the Flight Weather Service to get the latest pilot weather briefing and checked the
weather sites on the Internet. The forecast was clear weather, no storms were predicted. We arrived at the airport, completed preflight and boarded the plane. We ask God to bless and give us a safe journey on this one-hour trip, each way. With the engine started and procedures complete we departed. The air was smooth and visibility was great. These conditions would soon take a turn for the worst.

Thirty minutes into the flight the weather started to change with ferocity. Dark clouds began to form; the evening daylight disappeared into the cloudy blackness. I considered aborting the flight and returning home. One look behind us, we could see that was not an option. The lightning, heavy rain and deteriorating weather behind us would be deadly to a small plane. To remain out of the clouds we descended to two thousand feet. The wind began to toss the two-seat airplane around the sky as if it were a feather in a whirlwind. I had flown in turbulent conditions before, but this was extremely bad. Lightning was all around us, walls of rain poured from the dark boiling clouds. It was obvious the storm was overtaking us. We had no choice but to continue on, mere seconds and minutes now seemed to last forever.
Five miles from our destination the runway was in site. It gave a false since of security as the weather rapidly deteriorated. Flying over the Mississippi River at eighteen hundred
feet on our long final approach to the runway, the plane was encapsulated by the storm.

My worst fears were now a realization, flying in a thunderstorm in a small plane; gave me the feeling of helplessness. Unexpectedly the plane was suddenly hit by a microburst from the storm, a sudden down draft of fast moving turbulent air. The plane shook so hard that my feet came off of the rudder pedals the safety belts tugged at our waist. The vertical speed indicator showed we were being pushed toward the ground at a rate of a thousand feet per minute. I pushed the throttle in for maximum rpm's and struggled for control. The plane recovered losing two hundred feet of altitude in only a few seconds. I prayed silently,

"Lord we are not going to make without your help." After praying the turbulent air
became smooth again amid all the rain, lightning, and dark boiling clouds.
Since the storm first started, I now had hope that we were going to make it. We landed
without incident, secured the plane and went into the lodge when the full force of the
storm struck. I called the weather service to find out why the forecast was not as earlier
predicted. They replied it was an unforeseen upper air disturbance. Combined with the
convective heat of the day causing severe thunderstorms to suddenly erupt in our area.
It would be daybreak before we could return home. We phoned our wives and told them
the situation; they were relieved that we were safe. We sat down to supper, my friend
asked the blessing and we both gave thanks for our safe arrival. We thank God for
bringing us through the storm; it could have ended in tragedy but he chose to spare us.
Just as he spared Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego as they faced the storm of the fiery
furnace in Daniel Chapter #3.
There will always be storms in your life. It maybe sickness, the loss of a loved one. It might be drugs, alcohol. It could be just about anything that will destroy you or your happiness. You may have worldly possessions or you may know influential people. The
question is what are you putting your faith and trust in? Are you putting your faith and trust in this world and what it has to offer? If you do not know Christ you have nothing. The Bible says in Matthew 16:26, "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole
world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" The truth is this Old World will let you down. The Bible says in 1 st Timothy 6:7, "For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." But if you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior the Bible tells us in Isaiah 43:2. "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee."

If you do not know Jesus as your Lord and Savior and you died today, you would face the eternal storm of Hell. The storm of Hell will never pass. But as Christians we have hope and assurance that he will always be with us. The Bible says in Hebrews 13:3, "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as you have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." It is God that changes lives today, not this Old World. Has he made a change in you? The Bible says in Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." He can and will save you but you have to ask him. In Romans 10:9-10, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto
righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

I pray for those who don't know Jesus today. The worst storm in your life will be when you stand before the Lord and hear him say, "Depart from me I never knew you." You have the chance today to ask Christ into you life, to have him be your Lord and Savior. Bring him your sorrows, doubt, the storms of your life, and he can turn it into joy. Jesus is the only hope you need when the storms of life overwhelm you. When the unforeseen storms of life come, you need not feel helpless. When Jesus and his disciples were crossing to the other side of the Sea of Galilee there arose a great storm. The ship was about to sink, and the disciples were frantic. Jesus was asleep and they awoke him in fear for their lives. And the Bible says in Mark 4:39, "And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm." Only Jesus can bring calm to the storms in your life. Jesus only, can bring real peace and joy to the soul. I pray for the Christian that is in need of restoring fellowship with our Lord. If you are trying to live your life by your own strength you are destined to fail. But the Bible tells us in Philippians 4:13,"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." To hear
him say, "Well done thou good and faithful servant." It will be worth every storm in life you have faced. John 14-1, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." I pray the Holy Spirit has touched your life today and you've made a decision for Christ. If Christ can make a change in my life, he can make a change in yours.

Inspired by my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him I give all the Praise, Honor, and Glory.
By: G.L.F.
Ephesians 2:8-9