God's Flight Plan

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” He said, “Go . . . ” (Isa. 6:8–9). 

Flight plans are documents filed by pilots with the FAA. They include basic information such as departure and arrival points, estimated time en route, alternate airports in case of bad weather, etc. Fifteen years ago, my wife and I sensed a call to international missions. What we didn’t have was a “flight plan.” What we did have was a desire to be faithful to God in whatever place or way He led. I must say, it was hard not to envy the other missionaries who knew: “We’re going to Japan” or “We’re called to Mexico.” All we could say was, “We’re just called.”

It turns out God’s “flight plan” for us was and is Western Australia. We have now served here for 11 years. If we had insight into His plan back in 1998, I don’t know if we would have pursued it with the same passion and zeal as we did when it was a huge unknown.

If you were to dig a hole straight down in the town where I grew up, you would end up in the ocean west of where we live now. Talk about “the end of the earth”! But also “talk about” God’s goodness, mercy and omniscience in His most excellent placement of us. He has brought us to an amazingly challenging and blessed place of ministry! I can’t imagine a better spot for my family’s unique mix of personality, ethnicity, gifting and faith. God definitely knows what He is doing!

Whatever, whenever, wherever, however . . . God knows. Isaiah 55:9 says: “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” We must continually trust the One who not only knows us but loves us. He is good! And His “flight plans,” they are always perfect.

This was originally published in The Journey devotional in 2013. Chuck Linkston now serves with MTW in Tasmania.