I'm sitting here at the airport after an adventurous morning being reminded about my innate issue with being in control… I woke up excited for my trip to New York for a fun filled sister weekend that my sister and brother-in-law had gifted me for Christmas. I got ready and rushed my poor mamacita, (lil mom) like I tend to do when I feel the uncontrollable urge to be "on time" because I don't want to miss my flight. All of a sudden I got a few phone calls from my dad. He urged me to call the airline because as he was inserting my flight info into the Wassim Nahhas command center (he's so cute, he tracks everyone's flights to the last second) and he saw that my flight from Dallas to New York had been canceled. He was so calm, but I went from 0-90 on a full fledged panic attack.
My thoughts raced and my emotions came all at once. I didn't know whether to cry, laugh or get mad. I was shaking and sweating and my mind raced with every possible negative thought. When All of a sudden this thought entered my mind "welcome to the life of a missionary" and I sighed. I understood exactly what that meant…. THIS WAS A SPIRITUAL SIMULATION and I was about to be tested.
I started to verbally coach myself through this because I just needed to be reassured that it was all going to be ok. Then I had to remind myself, "Aline, you're a Christian, remember to treat the airline worker with respect. It's not her fault."
So I finally calmed myself down enough to call and speak with kindness rather than the desire to reach through the phone and lay hands on her. I spoke to her and she said "we had to cancel your flight but we have moved you to another flight landing in Newark around the same time". It was at this point that my blood pressure sky rocketed and I had to remind myself about Jesus once again.
Did this lady not know that Newark is not in the same city that I needed to fly into? Did she not know that my sister, Marlen, and Josh were planning to pick me up at La Guardia airport? Did she not know that I had not intended to pay $100 for their mistake?
And THEN… The Holy Spirit reminded me that it would all work out for my good, I just had to keep God first. That meant, be angry but sin NOT. That meant just go with it and don't fight it, let Him turn it around and work it in my favor. And I was reminded of this scripture, "“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord . “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts… You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. (Isaiah 55:8, 9, 12 NIV)".
At that moment I decided that I would just go with it during this entire trip. It was not easy, but I received so much peace when I let God lead my experience. Once I made that choice, I was able to receive the unexpected blessings and joy and peace prevailed!
