“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him.” Romans 15:13 (NIV)
I’ll never forget the moment I stood at the edge of the open plane door, ready to jump into nothing but air thousands of feet below. The roar of the wind was deafening, and I could feel the rush of cold air whipping against my face. My heart was pounding, but not from fear—I was excited. I trusted the parachute, the company, and the guy strapped to my back, who I had only met 20 minutes earlier.
3, 2, 1…we leapt. The free fall was exhilarating, the kind of thrill that makes your stomach drop and fills you with adrenaline all at once. As we plummeted through the sky, I was struck by how calm I felt. I wasn’t scared. I trusted the parachute and my new friend completely. Looking back, that moment of peace reminds me just how much I was willing to trust something so uncertain.
When the parachute finally deployed, everything changed. The rush of air softened, the world seemed to slow, and I saw the most beautiful view—endless blue skies above and the patchwork of earth stretching below. It was incredible.
Later, I learned something that caught me off guard. Just a month before, someone’s parachute had failed with the same company. Good to know, right? Nothing builds confidence like a fun fact that makes you question all your life choices. It was a sobering thought, but instead of making me panic, it made me reflect. I had placed so much trust in a parachute, a stranger, and a process that, as I found out, wasn’t flawless.
How often do we do that? We trust things that can fail—relationships, careers, possessions, or even our own abilities—but hesitate to trust God, the One who never fails. Romans 15:13 reminds us that God is the God of hope. When we place our trust in Him, He fills us with joy and peace. Not just some joy, not just a fleeting peace, but a deep and unshakable sense of both as we rely on Him.
God’s trustworthiness isn’t based on circumstances. It’s based on His unchanging nature. He has never failed, His promises are true, and His plans are always for our good. While life can be unpredictable, God remains steady, offering a peace that surpasses understanding.
We’re so quick to trust the things of this world, things that often let us down. But what would change if we shifted that trust to God? If I could have joy and peace jumping out of a plane, how much more can I have walking out this life with the Creator of the universe, the One who holds my future in His hands?
— Paul , LifeSongs
Reflective Question:
What is one specific area of your life where you are struggling to trust God? What might change if you let go and trusted Him fully today?
Pray:
Who is God laying on your heart right now? Pray for them now.
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