by Jonah Fair
SHELBY TOWNSHIP, MI – “Prepare for Takeoff.” Hearing these words from the captain, I begin to imagine what we must look like in the eyes of our Creator as our plane begins to ascend 30,000 feet into the sea of blue and white above. With every hundred feet of ascension, I can't help but think of heartbreak and unrest that currently rests below as the earth groans from the current worldwide pandemic and social unrest.
I can’t imagine what we look like through God's eyes.
As I look around the cabin of the plane, I notice many responses as the plane continues the ascension higher... and higher. To my left, a man sits slouched as his baseball hat attempts to cover his eyes. Across the aisle, a woman is looking intently at the man sitting next to her with an apparent desire for comfort from him in an anxious circumstance. In front of me, I see many other people of all ages, races, and creeds stare out of the little windows of the aircraft, each holding onto their own unique and individual thoughts, worries, insecurities, prayers, and concerns… yet our Creator cares for each and every one with utmost passion.
30,000 feet never fails to remind me how small we are, but how GREAT the Father’s love is for us!
I can only imagine the sorrow that our Creator must feel to know the brokenness that plagues us all. Tears swell in my eyes thinking of the fragile state of existence we live in. We are loved more than we can ever comprehend. I can’t imagine the sorrow our Creator feels to zoom in to view His precious daughter on her knees heartbroken and CRYING out for relief in a house below! I begin to try to imagine the sorrow He feels to see a husband and wife venomously yell at each other with hurt and insecurity spewing from the mouths that He created! Looking out into a sea of blue & white … ALL I CAN SEE IS GRACE!! Despite all of our brokenness, WHILE we were still sinners Jesus died for us! (Romans 5:8) Tears flood my eyes as my perspective changes from our failures... to our Savior!
Whether heart-broken or in awe and wonder, we have a Creator, Savior, and Sustainer relentlessly trying to capture our attention and shift our perspective from ourselves and our brokenness, to His Kingdom and His AMAZING Grace that surrounds us day-to-day EVEN IN THE DARK SEASONS OF THE SOUL! We spend so much time fighting a war that has already been won. Through it all, the sun never stops shining.
My friend, you are not alone.
May we hold on to the Light that:
Never leaves
Never hides
Never surrenders.
Jesus, help our gaze be on You. Help us love as You love. Help us forgive as You forgive. Help us see ourselves, and others, as You do. These days matter. Forgive us for our shortcomings and lead us in Your way everlasting. Give us a humble heart.
And through the darkness and the turbulence, may our heavy hearts reflect on this beloved hymn:
"O soul, are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see?
There’s a light for a look at the Savior, and life more abundant and free!
Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace..."
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.”
John 1:5 (NLT)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jonah Fair is the Student Pastor at Lakepointe Church in Shelby Township, Michigan. He also hosts The Colorinchaos Podcast.