Kim paced in front of the huge glass windows as the rain streamed down. What a depressing day. Brian approached, a takeout bag in hand.

“Hungry?”

Kim shrugged. “A little, I guess.”

“Well, it’s a long flight, and the airline snacks won’t fill you up.”

Kim glanced back toward the window. “I can’t believe we’re going to take off in this weather.”     

Brian took her hand and led her over to the row of chairs. “Planes fly in the rain all the time. Won’t it be nice to get away from this dreary weather? I checked. It’s 76 degrees and sunny in Dallas. That should help.” He handed her a foil-wrapped sandwich and a drink.

“I guess. I still can’t believe Aunt Liz is gone. She was a special lady.” Kim stared at the unwrapped sandwich in her lap.

Brian rubbed her shoulder. “I know, and I’m sorry. It’s been a rough season.”

“I’m not sure how much more I can handle. With all the stress at work, Jamie struggling so much to adjust at college, and your parents’ declining health, losing Aunt Liz in the midst of it is too much.”

“You’re not alone, you know.”

Kim turned toward her husband. “Thank you. You’ve always been my rock. You keep me grounded.”

Brian laughed. “Well, hopefully not today. Today I plan to get up in the air with you. And yes, I’m with you through all of this. I love Jamie as much as you do, and my parents’ issues are weighing on my heart as well. Fortunately, things are going pretty smoothly at my job. The timing of this trip worked out pretty well for me, so I don’t have that stress. I’m sorry yours has been so challenging lately.”

“Yeah, it would help if we didn’t have so many problems there. I hope they’re able to work out the bugs while we’re on this trip. I certainly can’t be available to answer any questions on Monday while we’re at Aunt Liz’s service.”

“You’re going to focus on being with family on this trip. They’ll get along without you at work the next couple of days. Now come on. The flight is still on time, so eat up. We should be boarding soon.” Brian took a bite of his sandwich.

After a few moments of relative silence, interrupted only by the announcements on the airport loudspeaker and the conversations of hundreds of strangers around them, Brian popped the last mouthful of his sandwich in his mouth and turned back to Kim.

“When I said you weren’t alone, I didn’t just mean me. God is with you in this storm of life, you know.”

Kim frowned. “Yeah, God won’t give us more than we can handle.”

“That’s not true. God allows us to go through more than we can handle all the time.”

Kim stared at Brian. “What do you mean?’

“If we could handle everything on our own, we wouldn’t need God. Sometimes God allows things in our lives that we can’t handle on our own at all. But if we trust in Him, He’ll carry us through it. Let God carry you through this storm. He’ll see you through to the other side.”

Their boarding group was announced, leaving Kim to process Brian’s comments. They tossed their trash, gathered their carry-ons, and boarded the plane. Kim took the window seat. The rain continued to stream down the windows. If anything, it was raining harder. Brian settled in his seat, put in his earbuds, and started scrolling through the movie selections.

Kim sent up a silent prayer. “God, I’m going through so much right now. Thanks for Brian. He’s been so wonderful through all this. Only You know how to get me through. I feel like I’m stuck in this storm in life. I don’t know how to help Jamie, work is so difficult, and it’s so hard seeing Brian’s parents decline. I know Aunt Liz is with you in heaven, but I miss her already. I can’t see past all this to Your goodness. Please help me.”

The flight attendants went through the safety drill, and soon, the plane took off, rising through the dark clouds. Usually, Kim liked to watch the landscape as the plane rose above it, but the visibility was terrible. All she could see were dark clouds. Just like in her life. She reached down into her bag to pull out her laptop. She wouldn’t work while she was with family, but she could get a few things done on the plane.

As she set the laptop on the tray table, the world brightened. Kim stared out the window and squinted in the bright sunlight. The plane had lifted through the dark clouds to the sun above. They were soaring above the storm. She swallowed hard. God was surely sending her a message. No matter what life looked like for her on earth, God lived above the storm, if she’d only take the time to look for Him. Even though things looked bleak in her life right now, He was in control and would help her find the sunshine.

Matthew 11:28
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

God, You don’t promise You won’t give us more than we can handle, but You do promise never to leave us or forsake us. Thank You for being with us in the storms of life, and for giving us hope that we can rise above the storms. You promise if we come to You, we will have rest. Please help us to remember You are the only true source of peace. Help us to be a light to others when they are going through storms as well. In Jesus’ name, Amen.