Air travel can be a risky proposition these days, can’t it? I always try to purchase my tickets weeks, if not months, ahead; pre-assign my seats; get to the airport 2-3 hours early on the day of the flight… and still the chance of us getting to our destination on time feels about 50/50.

I felt this none more than during Redmond VBS week just a while back. I knew I would miss the first couple of days of VBS due to a family wedding in New York City, but I was supposed to be back in time to resume my duties for the last 3 days. However, on the day we were supposed to fly back to Seattle, we were stuck at the airport for nearly 10 hours before it was ultimately announced that our flight was canceled, and we MIGHT be able to fly out the next day. I was so frustrated. How could God allow this to happen? Didn’t God know how meticulously we’d planned for every detail of VBS? Wasn’t my only intention to get back home to serve?

In my frustration, I had forgotten one very important lesson… as Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight.” I had made the situation about me, instead of focusing on Him. God has an amazing plan for us, and many times it doesn’t line up with our timing. In those situations, we just have to submit and take comfort in the fact that God is ultimately in control. The plans He has for us always exceed our wildest expectations because they align with what we are meant to be doing, not what we expect we should be doing.

Sure enough, we were able to fly home the next day. Many amazing brothers and sisters stepped up and filled in for my absence, and VBS went on without a hitch. I just pray that God will grant me the wisdom to remember this lesson the next time I find myself in an airport delay!