For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).
As I write this devotional, I am 30,000 feet in the air, flying east at over 500 mph, returning from our staff retreat in La Quinta, California.
Before I share what the Lord revealed during our time together, let me tell you what He is showing me right now. As I boarded the plane, a young mother approached my seat with her 8-month-old daughter, Emelia.
They would be my flying companions for the journey home. As a mother of three and grandmother of four, I asked if this was her first time flying with her baby. With a nervous smile, she said yes. I reassured her, “The Lord placed you next to someone who loves babies. You have nothing to worry about. We got this!”
As the plane took off through a particularly bumpy ascent out of Phoenix, I watched little Emelia peacefully drink from her bottle and drift off to sleep.
Despite the turbulence, she remained completely at rest, safe and secure in her mother’s arms. I immediately thought of Mark 4:38: “Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion.” While the disciples panicked in the storm, Jesus rested.
Just like Emelia, completely at peace in the midst of turbulence. So why do we struggle with fear, doubt, and worry? Scripture reminds us, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). Yet our flesh still trembles, even when our spirit knows this truth. I know mine does.
This past week, our staff retreat was deeply moving. It was a small but powerful gathering of leaders who love the Lord and His people. We shared how God is moving, where we need prayer, and the vision ahead for Links Players.
What struck me most was how human we all are. We are leaders, but we are also “weeping leaders.” There were tears, honest conversations, and a shared understanding that apart from Christ, we can do nothing.
As John 15:5 reminds us, “I am the vine; you are the branches… apart from me you can do nothing.” Even our best efforts fall short, yet that truth is not discouraging. It is freeing, because the power is not ours to carry. It is His.
I truly believe the Lord is doing something extraordinary among the women in our ministry. When I first stepped into this role, women represented just 4 percent of our organization.
Today, we are approaching 20 percent. This is not my doing; it is the Lord’s. “Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory” (Psalm 115:1). Looking ahead, I see a vision of over 1,000 thriving women’s fellowships around the world.
Does that sound too big? Not as I sit here in a silver bullet soaring 30,000 feet above the earth. “For nothing will be impossible with God” (Luke 1:37).
As I glance again at Emelia, still resting peacefully despite the turbulence, I am reminded that this is what trust looks like. If she can rest so fully in her mother’s arms, how much more can we rest in the arms of our Heavenly Father? God does His greatest work through surrendered hearts, through those who rely completely on His strength.
So today I ask you, will you trust Him more fully? Will you release your fears and rest in His peace? Will you step into the calling He has placed before you? Let’s live fully surrendered, boldly in faith in Christ, and completely secure in the arms of our Father.
Prayer: Lord, teach us to fully surrender our lives to You. Even in turbulence, help us to rest in Your peace, trusting completely in Your love and power. Amen.