TRUST THE PILOT
In Matthew 4:3 we read, “And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God…”
TRUST THE PILOT. A little boy was flying on an airplane for the very first time. Everything was fine until the plane suddenly went through some turbulence. The plane began to shake, the lights started flickering, and passengers started looking around nervously. The little boy began to get scared and finally asked his dad, “Dad, what if this plane crashes?” His father calmly smiled and said, “Son, don’t live in the ‘what ifs.’ Trust the one flying the plane.” That’s good advice for all of us because one of Satan’s favorite weapons is filling our minds with his favorite word, “if.” “What if God doesn’t come through?” “What if things never get better?” “What if your prayers aren’t being heard?” “What if God has forgotten you?” The devil loves the word “if” because he knows doubt can weaken our faith.
WHAT DID JESUS DO? In our verse for today, Satan came to Jesus in the wilderness and his attack began with his favorite word: “If thou be the Son of God…” What makes that interesting is that God had just declared Jesus was His Son. At His baptism, Heaven opened and the Father said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Yet Satan still came trying to create doubt about something God had already spoken as truth. Many believers live defeated because Satan keeps whispering “what if.” But Jesus showed us how to fight back. Every time Satan attacked Him, Jesus answered him with Scripture: “It is written…” And that’s still how we must fight back against him today. When Satan whispers lies and doubts into your heart, answer him with the Word of God. When he says, “If God really loved you, you wouldn’t be going through this,” remember God promised: “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
When he whispers, “If you were truly saved, you wouldn’t struggle the way you do,” stand on this truth: “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” When discouragement says, “If prayer really worked, things would be different by now,” hold on to what Jesus said: “Men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” When you feel you’re by yourself and facing a difficulty and the enemy suggests, “If God cared, why do you feel so alone?” cling to this promise: “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” And when the devil drags up your past and says, “If your sins were really forgiven, why do you still remember them?” rejoice in God’s Word: “Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. The devil loves to attack believers with the “what ifs.” But Jesus showed us what to do. He fought the lies of the enemy with the truth of God’s Word.
TRUST THE ONE FLYING THE PLANE. So the next time Satan comes whispering his favorite word, “if,” don’t let doubt crowd your heart. Answer him the same way Jesus did, with the Word of God. The enemy may question God’s love, God’s promises, and even your faith, but God’s truth never changes. Don’t dwell on the devil’s “what ifs.” Stand upon God’s “It is written’s.” When you’re experiencing spiritual turbulence…when fear creeps in…when doubt starts whispering…remember this: God is still in control. Your faith may be shaken. You may not understand what’s happening or why, but you can still trust the Pilot! Think it over…🙏
