“Lord, if you never want me to fly again, it’s okay. I only want to serve you”. I was 17 years old, standing on the brink of achieving what I had desired since I was a young boy. I wanted to fly, and after two years of flight training the first, and most important, step in the realization of my dream was almost complete. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else with my life. Oh, don’t get me wrong! I had come to Christ when I was 6, and was steadily growing in my walk with Him. I knew that, ultimately, I was supposed to live my life for His glory. I just thought I knew how I could do that best: flying. Give it up.

If someone had told me that God would one day bring this dream to an end, I would have thought they were crazy. But, that very impression was growing stronger and stronger, pressing me to a decision. Would I obey what I believed God was telling me to do, or would I hang on to my dreams, my will? As I sought counsel and prayed about what to do, I also took a close look at how my life was unfolding, As I did so, I began to realize that my dream of a future in aviation had become, in fact, my idol. Flying had become my life. It was consuming my thoughts and driving virtually every decision I made.

I can vividly remember one night when it seemed that the question was laid very plainly before me. When I would give an account of my life before my Maker, what would I want to be able to say? In essence, had I truly served the Lord, or had I simply used “the Lord” as a pretense to serve myself? I knew what I had to do. I surrendered. This story that I have just related is intensely personal. It is my story, of how God dealt with me. Please do not think I am saying that God always “kills” everyone’s dreams. “Dreams” can in fact be from Him, a means of moving us forward in His will. Any legitimate occupation can be in full accord with His will, pursued for His glory and effective in furthering His Kingdom.

However, allow me to ask a very simple, and yet very important question. What is more important to you - your “dream”, or your Lord? What if God says “Give it up” to that which is most precious to you? How will you respond? Will you, like Abraham, willingly (though perhaps with tears) sacrifice your “Isaac” - the object of your hopes and affections? It is my observation that God will often lead His people through similar “crises”. Some would call them “tests”, to see where our hearts truly lie.

However, I also think that they serve to remind us of two very basic things. The first is the question of “who” is really in control. I see bumper stickers from time to time saying, “God is my co-pilot”. Cute. And I appreciate what they’re trying to say. But I wonder if we, who profess to be followers of Christ, all too often live our lives as if we were the pilot-in-command. We set our course, and expect the Lord to simply back us up. However, this thinking is totally backwards! It is Christ who must be in command. If we try to maintain control of our own lives, then we will not experience much of the joy, fulfillment and depth of fellowship with Him as well as much of our usefulness in His Kingdom.

Second, the wonderful thing is that when we “change seats” and let Him fly in command, we begin to see the perfection of His plans. Yes, the Lord completely altered my course, but He in turn opened up a world of opportunity I would never have had if I had continued in my own plans. When we surrender, He abundantly blesses, and we will experience the fullness of the life that He has planned for us.

In His Service,

Stephen P. Tecklenberg
President / Executive Director