All of us as believers go through raw and bitter moments. These moments are not reserved for a few, nor are they signs of weak faith. On the contrary, they are often the spaces where faith is tested, refined, and strengthened. Today I will tell you a raw moment that I could live on February 14, 2016, a date that until that day had no special spiritual meaning for me, but that would forever remain engraved in my memory as a reminder of God’s faithfulness.
Before that day, I had already experienced different challenges in life, but nothing that confronted me so directly with the fragility of human existence. I had just finished visiting my family in Spain and Holland, moments filled with affection, laughter, and the warmth that only family can provide. After those visits, I returned to my country, the Dominican Republic, on February 14. Like many travelers, I boarded the plane with routine thoughts, assuming it would be another ordinary flight.
Next to me sat a lady I did not know. As often happens on flights, we began a simple conversation, sharing small details about our destinations and reasons for traveling. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. The atmosphere was calm, and everything suggested a normal journey. However, suddenly, without warning, the plane entered a zone of great turbulence.
This was not ordinary turbulence. I had already traveled on several planes throughout my life and had experienced turbulence before, but never anything like this. The plane shook violently, and the sensation was overwhelming. What made it even more distressing was that the turbulence did not last just a few seconds or minutes. It extended for a long time, long enough to allow fear to grow and settle deeply in the hearts of many passengers.
Around me, I could see people beginning to tremble and cry. Panic spread quickly through the cabin. The lady sitting next to me started crying with great anguish, holding tightly to her seat. Her tears reflected the fear that many others felt but could not express. The sounds of sobbing, prayers whispered under breath, and anxious murmurs filled the air.
Honestly, that was a time when many thought they would not reach their destination. The faces around me were marked by uncertainty and fear. Even the flight attendants, trained to maintain calm, were running from one place to another, doing their best to manage the situation. Their expressions revealed the seriousness of the moment.
In those moments, human strength proves insufficient. No amount of planning, intelligence, or experience can give us control when our lives seem to hang in the balance. Yet, in the midst of that chaos, something became clear to me: my trust in God overcomes all dangers. It was not because I was brave by nature or indifferent to death, but because I had learned, through years of walking with God, that He remains sovereign even when circumstances spiral beyond our understanding.
At that moment, I did not cry, nor did I tremble. Instead, I cried out to God in my heart. I thanked Him for everything—for life, for salvation, and even for that moment of uncertainty. I knew that God is faithful at every moment and that His faithfulness surpasses our dangers, our afflictions, and any difficult moment we may face in our lives.
This does not mean that fear was absent, but faith was stronger. Faith does not eliminate the storm, but it anchors the soul in the middle of it. In that plane, I realized once again that trusting God does not mean knowing the outcome, but resting in His character regardless of the outcome.
Many times, when things go wrong, we question God. We ask why He allows certain situations, why suffering comes, or why danger threatens our lives. However, we must remember that we have not been called to question the Creator as if He owed us explanations. God knows the reasons behind everything, even when they remain hidden from us.
We must learn to be satisfied with what He allows in His infinite mercy. Trusting God means accepting that His wisdom surpasses ours and that His plans are always righteous, even when they involve pain or uncertainty. That day, I understood that my role was not to demand answers, but to surrender fully to His will.
Perhaps that plane could have fallen that day. That possibility crossed many minds, including mine. Yet, even in that thought, I found peace. Like the apostle Paul, I could say with sincerity: “For me, to die is gain.” This does not mean a desire for death, but a deep assurance that life and death are both under God’s authority and serve His purposes.
When the turbulence finally subsided and the plane continued its journey, a sense of relief filled the cabin. Tears dried, and anxious faces slowly relaxed. Many passengers looked around as if realizing they had been given another opportunity to live. For me, that moment became a renewed call to gratitude and commitment.
I thank God that at every crucial moment of my life He has been there. I have learned not to rely on my own strength, intelligence, or experience, but on Him alone. Human strength fades quickly, but God’s power remains constant.
As long as I have life, I hope in some way to contribute something to this gospel of Christ. Moments like that flight remind us that life is fragile and time is limited. Every breath is a gift, and every day is an opportunity to glorify God and serve others.
Raw moments shape us. They strip away illusions of control and teach us where our true security lies. That day, thousands of meters above the ground, I was reminded that my life rests in God’s hands, and there is no safer place to be.
May your trust in God never fail you. When storms arise—whether in the air or in the heart—remember that God remains faithful. Hold on to Him, and you will find peace even in the most turbulent moments of life.