Faith and Flight

How often do you travel by plane? Our air traffic control situation is in the news almost every day. Whether we are being told about flight delays or air traffic controller shortages, the media wants us to be aware of the problems around air travel. But we keep flying. In fact, in the first half of 2025, we heard many airports were at capacity. Despite all the problems. What keeps us flying?

It comes down to faith and desire. When we board an airplane, we are placing an enormous amount of faith in an invisible, complex network of radar systems, computer algorithms, and human controllers. We do this because there is someone we want to see or a destination we want to get to. Faith and desire drive our hearts every day, all day.

So, what is faith? Hebrews 11:1 tells us, Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. That definition works well with our airplane illustration. Our trust that the plane will get us where we need to go is completely reasonable given aviation’s safety record, and yet it requires a leap of faith beyond what we can directly verify in the moment. We act decisively based on confidence in something larger than our immediate experience.  God’s track record is infallible, and yet, in the moment, we don’t always see Him. When I don’t see Him how I want to, I can be fearful, anxious, and harbor a myriad of doubts. I get on a plane without fear, yet struggle to trust my completely trustworthy Heavenly Father. That is the juxtaposition of the human heart!

In Every Day Gospel, Paul Tripp writes that there are three essential elements of a life of faith: Confession, Remembrance, and Glory.

Confession is simply the humble, heartfelt daily admission that I don’t have it all together. I need grace for my full-to-the-brim mind of fear and doubt. I don’t have to hide the reality of my need. It’s a relief to simply bring who I am, with all my doubts and fears, to my gracious Father, asking for forgiveness and help.

Remembrance is fighting to remember the life-transforming magnitude of who God is and how his love changes us. When I remember that He is my strength, my rock, my hope, the Redeemer of all,  I’m activating faith. Remembering that His love and grace are the power that transforms me, not my self-effort, motivates me to seek His face and rest in His steadfast love, moment by moment.

Glory is knowing whose glory I’m working for, mine or His. We live in a glory war. My natural default is to live and work for my glory. It's subtle, and I do that without even thinking about it. Faith finds joy in praising and working for God’s name and making His power and character known.

Breaking faith down into these components is life-giving and creates hope. Confessing, remembering, and living for the glory of God can become daily rhythms. Instead of condemning myself for my lack of faith, I simply confess, remember, and realign to God’s glory.

Last night was the first Prayer and Praise gathering of New City Church. God is at work in so many ways, and yet, I need faith to trust Him where He has us. As I confess my need of Him, God is encouraging me to remember these promises:

I will never leave you or forsake you. Hebrews 13:5

I am with you always even to the end of the age. Matthew 28:20

I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. Matthew 16:18

My God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

Do not worry, your Father knows what you need. Matthew 6:25-32 (paraphrased)

You did not choose me but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit. John 15:16

God’s power is made perfect in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9

Our aviation system works because millions of people every day choose to trust it without being able to verify every component. Their faith enables them to take action (boarding the plane), which transforms their circumstances (arriving at their destination). I’m asking the Lord to help us as we take action to plant this church, trusting that He is in complete control of who joins this church and where we are going.

One more thing about faith: it’s not blind belief, but trust that enables action despite incomplete information- trust based on experience and evidence, but extending beyond what we can fully control or comprehend. Our faith in God isn’t blind belief either. He has proven Himself again and again. Even this week, I am seeing the evidence of God all around New City Church.