Clarity Coming Down

I don’t fly very often but when I do I generally fly at night. The atmosphere seems quieter and I usually nod off until we land. On the rare occasion that it is day time, I’ve had the unfortunate circumstance of bad weather and cloudy skies. All this translates in to me not being able to see outside the window and enjoy the view.

Friday as I took an early morning flight to Denver the skies were clear across the country and the weather was beautiful. As I settled down in my aisle seat I realized no one was sitting in my row. I slid over to the window as we prepared for takeoff and watched through the small opening. Ascending through the sky I watched the boats in the harbor get smaller and smaller until they appeared as small specks on the horizon.

Throughout the flight I occasionally peered out the window at the landscape below. Everything was fuzzy. I could see shades of green and tans, and lines which seemed to be roads cutting through the country but clarity wasn’t there. I couldn’t make out the details and intricacies of trees, cars, buildings, or people.

I nodded off for several hours until the pilot came over the speaker to tell us we were about to make our descent. Again, sliding over to the window, I spent the remaining time staring out that little window watching the landscape change. Lower and lower, my eyes became clearer to the world below. I was able to see things for what they were, no longer blurred by distance.

When we put our hope in Jesus and Him alone He takes us to new heights. Here we experience peace about the troubles we are facing. The hectic and often frustrating world seems so far away as we bask in the glory of the Lord. We are soaring on wings like eagles, as Isaiah said. My problems don’t seem so big anymore, but appear like tiny specks on the horizon, fuzzy and hard to make out.

In Matthew 17 Jesus takes Peter, John, and James up the mountain where He is transfigured. Basking in the glory of God Peter blurts out “it is good for us to be here, let us build shelters”. But those shelters don’t get built. While it certainly is good to be in the presence of God like that we are called to be in lights in the world(Matthew 5:14) and so we must come down.

As the landscape was getting clearer staring out that window it hit me that coming down from that high with Jesus gives me clarity in my problems. Sure they are the same size, but I was flying so high He showed me how big they were to Him, which isn’t very big at all. And as I came in for a landing it was smooth and I was safe, just like He promised.