When Life Gets Rough, Who’s Your Pilot?

What tremendous lesson did I learn on that flight? It’s perfectly normal to not pay much attention to the details of life as long as things are going smoothly!

Who even thinks about the pilot until the weather gets rough? But when the plane jolts, jumps, rocks, and swerves—that’s ALL we can think about. And then we want to know: Who is steering this careening machine? The pilot instantly becomes very important because our safety is in his hands!

The same is true in life. When everything is smooth sailing, we might not think much about who is in control. But let the rough family times, the roller coaster ride of our emotions, the crash of our finances, or the plummet of our health come—THEN the Pilot captures our rapt attention.

God was about to capture David’s full attention after he fled to the wilderness to live in the cave of Adullam. This launched David’s “cave times” period, which would soon prove to be one of his deepest trials.

Psalm 13 reveals what was happening to David after he fled Gath but before all his friends arrived at the cave, as described in 1 Samuel 22:2. As he ran for his life, he felt abandoned by everyone—including God.

Cave times usually make us feel depressed and all alone. Because others no longer seem as supportive or as friendly, an abandoned feeling leads into the downward spiral of thinking: No one cares for me! Like David, we may then conclude: God has also abandoned me!

However, there are Biblical ways for a child of the Most High to find hope and strength during these “cave times”:

1. Cry Out to God: David often poured out his heart to God. In Psalm 13:1-2, he laments, “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?” Being honest with God about our feelings is the first step toward healing.

2. Remember God’s Promises: Trust that God is working behind the scenes. In Romans 8:28, we are reminded, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

3. Seek God’s Presence: Spend time in prayer and worship. Psalm 34:18 assures us, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

4. Trust in His Timing: God’s timing is perfect. Isaiah 60:22 says, “When the time is right, I, the Lord, will make it happen.”

5. Encourage Yourself in the Lord: Just as David did, find strength in your relationship with God. In 1 Samuel 30:6, we see that “David was greatly distressed… But David found strength in the Lord his God.”

No matter what you may be facing today, trust in God’s assurance that everything will fall into place in His perfect time.

Remember, “When the time is right, I, the Lord, will make it happen.” Isaiah 60:22

In these challenging moments, cling to these truths and let God’s promises be your anchor. The Pilot of your life knows the way through the storm.