Buckle Up: We're expecting turbulence - Sermon Recap

Originally presented on September 5th, 2021

Scripture Focus

Exodus 12:31–32 (Pharaoh finally says, “Up! Leave… go worship the Lord… and also bless me.”)
Exodus 13:17–22 (God leads Israel by pillar of cloud and fire.)
Exodus 14:10–14 (“Do not be afraid… The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”)

Reflection:

We just lived through a wild week in the tri-state - flash floods in NYC, tornado warnings in Jersey, and the kind of headlines that make you pause and say, “Lord… please cover us.”

And it made me think about something spiritual that we don’t talk about enough:

We expect turbulence on planes, but we act shocked when it shows up in our walk with God.

When you board a flight, the first thing they tell you is to buckle up.
Not because they want turbulence… but because turbulence is a normal part of the journey.

Yet when life shakes - when plans break, relationships shift, health gets scary, money gets tight, or the enemy comes swinging - many of us respond like the Israelites:

God finally set them free after 400 years of slavery. That’s a miracle. That’s “I AM FREE!” type joy.
But not long after their breakthrough, Pharaoh chased them down, the Red Sea stood in front of them, and panic took over.

They looked at Moses and basically said:
“Why did you bring us out here? We should’ve stayed in Egypt.”

And that right there is the test:

Will you still trust God when freedom comes with turbulence?

Israel had a GPS we can barely imagine - a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. God was visibly leading them.

But when the pressure hit, they forgot the pillar.
They saw Egypt behind them and trouble in front of them, and fear started rewriting history.

That’s what turbulence does if you’re not buckled in:

• It makes you forget what God already did
• It makes you romanticize what God already freed you from
• It makes you question the same God who brought you out

But here’s the truth:

God never promised the absence of trouble. He promised His presence in it.

Jesus said it clearly:
“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

How Do You “Buckle Up” Spiritually?

Paul gives us the answer in Ephesians 6:10–18: the full armor of God.

Buckle up doesn’t mean “pretend life won’t shake.”
It means prepare like you know it will.

Here are today’s anchors:

1) Expect the attack - don’t personalize the battle

Some things are not just “people being people.”
Paul says our struggle isn’t flesh and blood - it’s spiritual. (Eph. 6:12)
When you recognize the real enemy, you stop wasting energy fighting the wrong thing.

2) Put on the full armor - no half-stepping

You can’t wear faith like a jacket; you grab only when it rains.
Turbulence doesn’t announce itself. The enemy loves catching us slipping.

3) Tighten the belt of truth

Truth is what holds everything together.
If you don’t know what God says, you’ll believe what fear says.

Jesus didn’t argue with Satan - He answered with “It is written.”
That’s how you stay grounded when life starts shaking.

4) Pray like your life depends on it

Because it does.
Prayer is not a last resort. Prayer is your lifeline.
It keeps you connected to the Pilot when the ride gets rough.

Today’s Challenge

Ask yourself honestly:

• Am I surprised by turbulence… or prepared for it?
• Am I anchored in the Word… or running on vibes and emergency prayers?
• When pressure hits, do I move forward with God… or start longing for “Egypt” again?

Beloved, freedom is real - but so is the fight.
The difference is: you are not fighting alone.

Declaration

I will not panic when the ride gets rough.
I will buckle up in truth.
I will stand firm in faith.
I will pray without ceasing.
And I will keep moving forward - because God already declared my victory.

Prayer:

Father, forgive me for the times I’ve treated trouble like a sign You left me. Teach me to see turbulence as a part of the journey - not proof that I’m off course. Help me to stay buckled in Your Word, clothed in Your armor, and consistent in prayer. Strengthen my faith so I don’t run back to what You delivered me from. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Journal Prompt:

Where have I been tempted to go back to “Egypt” because the journey got hard?
What scripture can I keep ready - my “seatbelt verse” - for the next time turbulence hits?