Trusting God Through Life's Turbulence and Calm

Life is full of turbulence—unexpected challenges, seasons of stress, and moments when everything seems to shake at once. In these times, it’s tempting to grab the controls and try to steer our own lives, believing that our efforts or wisdom can bring stability. Yet, just as in an airplane, turbulence does not mean the plane is falling; it’s a call to fasten our seatbelts, trust the pilot, and remain secure in God’s promises. God is our ever-present help, and He invites us to trust Him, not just in the storms, but also when skies are clear.

Reflecting on personal experiences, it’s easy to see how fear can drive us to take matters into our own hands. Even when we do all the “right” spiritual things—praying, reading Scripture, worshipping—if our actions are rooted in anxiety rather than trust, we end up striving in our own strength. The story of Saul in 1 Samuel 13 is a sobering reminder: under pressure, Saul took control instead of waiting on God, confusing initiative with obedience. His impatience cost him dearly, showing that God values trust and surrender over frantic activity.

But the temptation to take control isn’t limited to crisis moments. Sometimes, when life is smooth, we subtly begin to rely on our own wisdom, as Jehoshaphat did when he made alliances God never intended. Whether in chaos or calm, the call remains the same: stay in your seat, keep your eyes on the pilot, and trust His hands on the controls. The Holy Spirit is like the flight attendant, guiding, comforting, and reminding us of God’s truth, even when we can’t see the outcome.

Every journey has its turbulence, detours, and even crash landings, but with Jesus as the pilot, we are always in safe hands. The journey is not about comfort, but about learning to trust, obey, surrender, and grow closer to God. He who began a good work in us will be faithful to complete it. Trusting God doesn’t mean we understand every twist and turn, but it means we know who is flying the plane. Whether you’re just boarding or have been on this journey for years, today is an opportunity to surrender control, fasten your seatbelt, and trust the One who never fails.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Turbulence is a Call to Trust, Not to Take Control When life shakes us, our instinct is often to seize the controls and fix things ourselves. But true peace comes from remaining in our seat and trusting God, even when we don’t understand the turbulence. Our efforts to control can actually intensify the storm, while surrendering allows God to carry what only He was meant to bear. [21:20]
• 2. Obedience is Greater Than Initiative Under Pressure Saul’s story reveals the danger of confusing human initiative with godly obedience. Acting out of fear or pressure, even with good intentions, can lead us away from God’s best. Waiting on the Lord, even when it feels risky or counterintuitive, is the path to lasting blessing and spiritual authority. [28:28]
• 3. Spiritual Disciplines Must Flow from Trust, Not Anxiety It’s possible to do all the right spiritual activities—prayer, worship, Bible reading—yet still operate from a place of fear. God desires that we seek Him from a posture of rest and trust, not as a means to manipulate outcomes or calm our anxieties. Letting go and being still is an act of faith that invites God’s presence into our situation. [31:05]
• 4. Trust is Needed in Calm as Much as in Crisis The temptation to take back control doesn’t only arise in storms; it can sneak in when life is smooth and predictable. Like Jehoshaphat, we may start to rely on our own wisdom, forgetting that only God can sustain what He has begun. Trusting God means seeking His guidance in every season, not just when we feel desperate. [34:01]
• 5. The Holy Spirit Guides Us Safely Through Every Season Just as a flight attendant reassures and instructs passengers during turbulence, the Holy Spirit comforts, teaches, and reminds us of God’s promises. Trusting the pilot doesn’t remove the turbulence, but it gives us peace and confidence that we will reach our destination. Even detours and crash landings are under God’s sovereign care, and He will complete the good work He started in us.
  
  ** [35:17]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:57] - Personal Introduction and Background
• [02:22] - Youth Ministry and Church Involvement
• [18:02] - Preparing the Message
• [18:43] - Trust the Pilot Amidst Turbulence
• [19:27] - Defining Spiritual Turbulence
• [20:02] - The Airplane Vision: Taking Control in Crisis
• [21:51] - Personal Story: Stress and Surrender
• [24:36] - Saul’s Story: Pressure and Disobedience
• [25:39] - Testimony: God’s Provision in Paris
• [27:19] - The Power of Waiting on the Lord
• [29:29] - Psalm 46: Be Still and Let Go
• [31:39] - Trusting God in Calm Seasons: Jehoshaphat’s Example
• [34:23] - The Holy Spirit: Our Guide and Comforter
• [35:52] - The Promise of a Safe Landing
• [37:21] - Trusting God More Than People
• [38:29] - Responding: Surrender and Trust
• [39:04] - Closing and Invitation to Respond

Bible Reading

1 Samuel 13:8-14 (ESV) — > He waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him. So Saul said, “Bring the burnt offering here to me, and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering. As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came. And Saul went out to meet him and greet him. Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash, I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the LORD.’ So I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering.” And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the LORD your God, with which he commanded you. For then the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought out a man after his own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.”

2. Psalm 46:10-11 (ESV)
> “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

3. Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
> Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Observation Questions

1. In the story of Saul (1 Samuel 13), what specific pressures led him to take matters into his own hands instead of waiting for Samuel? [24:36]
2. According to Psalm 46:10, what does it mean to “be still” and how is this different from simply doing nothing? [29:53]
3. What was the result of Jehoshaphat relying on his own wisdom and making an alliance God never intended? [33:00]
4. In the sermon, what role does the Holy Spirit play during times of turbulence, according to the flight attendant analogy? [35:17]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Saul’s impatience and initiative were considered disobedience, even though he was trying to seek God’s favor? What does this reveal about God’s priorities? [28:28]
2. The sermon mentions that spiritual disciplines like prayer and Bible reading can be done from a place of anxiety rather than trust. How can someone tell the difference in their own life? [23:46]
3. Why is it just as important to trust God in calm seasons as it is during crisis? What dangers are present when life is going smoothly? [34:01]
4. How does the analogy of the Holy Spirit as a flight attendant help us understand His role in our daily walk with God? [35:17]

Application Questions

1. Can you think of a recent “turbulence” in your life where you instinctively tried to take control? What did that look like, and what was the outcome? [21:20]
2. Are there areas in your life right now where you are doing all the “right” spiritual things, but your motivation is anxiety or fear rather than trust? How can you shift your posture to one of rest and faith? [23:46]
3. When was the last time you felt tempted to rely on your own wisdom or make a decision without seeking God, especially when things were going well? What happened? [34:01]
4. The sermon says, “Be still and know that I am God” means to let go and surrender control. What is one specific area where you need to “let go” this week? [29:53]
5. How do you usually respond to the “flight attendant” (Holy Spirit) when He prompts you to trust or reminds you of God’s promises? Is there a recent example where you ignored or listened to that prompting? [35:17]
6. The story of Saul shows that acting out of fear can have lasting consequences. What practical steps can you take to pause and wait on God the next time you feel pressured? [28:28]
7. The sermon ends with an invitation to “fasten your seatbelt and trust the One who never fails.” What would it look like for you to renew your trust in God this week, both in the chaos and in the calm? [38:29]