Fr Alvan Ibeh: When God is the Pilot

In his regular column Fr Alvan Ibeh reflects on trusting God’s constant presence and guidance through life’s uncertainties, likened to a pilot safely guiding passengers through turbulence.

On the 6th Sunday of Easter, in the Gospel reading, Jesus, after announcing to His followers that He would return to His Father in heaven, assured them that He would not leave them as orphans but would come to them and “be with them till the end of time” (Matthew 28:20). The significance of this promise is that this companionship is not temporary but lasts through joy, sorrow, and uncertainty.

They needed to hear these consoling and comforting words at a time when it felt like Jesus would no longer be physically with them. But knowing that His presence (manifested in the Holy Spirit) accompanies them everywhere they go gave them so much confidence and courage. This is what happens when we fully recognise that, in the journey of life, no matter what is going on, God is always the pilot, and this means we can relax, knowing we are totally safe.

This then leads me to this story: On a particular day, a group of people from different races and religions was travelling from one country to another. Everything started very well; the taxiing and take-off were smooth, and everyone was happy and relaxed. Suddenly, severe turbulence began. If you have not experienced this before, you wouldn’t understand how scary it can be.

I have had this experience several times, but the worst was when I was coming back from one of my holidays in Nigeria. Sometimes it felt like the plane was going to drop out of the sky. I could hear people shouting, “Jesus, save us.” I’m sure this doesn’t mean anything to the pilot, because they are used to it and know that nothing will happen.

So, back to the story: the turbulence continued. It became so bad that the passengers all got scared and thought they were about to perish. Everyone was calling on what they believed in to come and save them. Of course, nobody would like to die in such an incident, especially when the person is not on good terms with God. Some, at that point, even started confessing their sins and promising God that if He could save them, they would give their lives to Him.

There was an atheist on the flight who was also so scared that he started praying to the God he had always claimed never existed. But then he noticed a young girl on the other side who was calm and undisturbed by what was going on. She was very focused, painting pictures and not taking any notice of the situation.

When the plane finally landed safely, the atheist went straight to the young girl and said to her, “Hello, young girl, I noticed you were so relaxed when the turbulence was happening. Were you not scared?”

The girl looked at him and, smiling, responded, “Nope.”

“Why?” the atheist asked.

She then said in her tiny voice, “Because my dad was the pilot of the plane.”

This statement amazed the man, and he couldn’t say anything more but had to leave. Can you see the confidence this little girl had, just knowing that her dad was the pilot?

Life often feels like a journey through changing weather. Some days are calm and beautiful; other days bring storms we never expected. We make plans, set goals, and dream about tomorrow, yet one phone call, one disappointment, one sickness, or one loss can suddenly change everything. In moments like these, fear easily takes control. We begin to wonder: “Who is really in charge of my life?”

For every Christian, the answer should be clear: God is the pilot. We may be passengers on the journey of life, but God remains in control of the direction, the timing, and the destination. Trusting Him does not mean we will never experience turbulence. It means believing that even in the storm, the One guiding our lives cannot fail.

When God is the pilot, we do not need to live in constant fear of the future. The world may change, economies may fail, relationships may disappoint, and human strength may weaken, but God remains faithful. He has never lost control of the lives entrusted to Him.

So, no matter what you may be facing at this moment, remember this truth: God sees farther than you can see, knows more than you can know, and loves you more than you can imagine. Trust Him with your journey. The pilot never abandons His passengers.

Shalom.

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