Climb Higher

The other day I turned on the radio just in time to hear Dr. David Jeremiah illustrate his sermon on worry:

In the earlier days of aviation, a pilot had touched down at an airstrip to replenish his supplies and fuel, and then continued on his journey. Several hours into the flight, he heard a noise like that of a rat chewing on something, and surmised that during his last stop, it had somehow gotten on board. He couldn’t see it, but he could imagine it chewing on the vital wires that led to the instrument panel.

What could he do? There was no going back, because it was as far back as it was to the next airport. Then he remembered something. Rats are rodents. And rodents are ground creatures – they can’t tolerate high altitudes. With that, he immediately pointed his plane upward and began climbing higher, higher, until he was many, many thousand feet in the air... and the gnawing sound had ceased. He arrived safely at his next destination, and upon searching the plane he found, sure enough, the dead rat.

Worry is a rat. It will eat away at our insides and threaten to sever the connections of peace and trust – but it can’t stand the altitude of faith. If we determine to live our lives on a higher plane, worry will not survive.

Is there a disturbing gnawing sound in your life? Consider these Scriptures:

“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you” (Isaiah 26:3 NIV).
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6-7 NIV).

When His peace in you is disturbed, it’s time to suspect a rat on board. It’s time to head for higher ground.

My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
While some may dwell where these abound,
My prayer, my aim is higher ground. -Johnson Oatman, Jr.