Devotional
Posted: 08/07/2026
If standing in a queue, for example, to get a table at your favorite restaurant, is an optional experience in the U.S., for some of us who grew up in post-Soviet Armenia, it can be a traumatic one, as standing in line for our daily bread was part of our daily life. To this day, this experience brings back memories of misery, dire need, hopelessness, and the inability to find a way out.
A few days ago, I experienced a similar feeling when my plane landed at LAX. Upon arrival, the captain announced that he had been instructed not to approach the gate until further notice. We waited 10 minutes on the runway, then 20 minutes, then 30, and I could feel the escalating tension and anxiety among the passengers. After a long flight, my lower back was hurting, it was getting extremely hot on the plane, and we were still waiting: 40 minutes, 50 minutes.
Finally, the captain received clearance and made his way to the assigned gate. The plane stopped, the seatbelt sign turned off, and everyone stood up to get their carry-ons from the overhead bins. I felt freed. Finally, I could stretch my body and breathe some fresh air. I pulled out my phone to get an Uber. Home seemed so close.
As soon as I stood up, however, I realized that it was not over yet. Although passengers were slowly getting off the plane, I had to wait for everyone in front of me to get off before I could do the same. I realized that I had no control over the situation and had no other choice but to go with the flow.
In many situations in life, we may feel trapped. People and events may slow down our progress. The air around us may become suffocating, triggering frustration, anxiety, and even past traumas. We may think we can control the situation. We may try to push the limits through sweat and tears, only to be confronted with our own powerlessness. Yet the survival lesson we must learn is that sometimes we have to conserve every bit of our remaining energy instead of allowing the situation to completely drain us of it.
When we find ourselves in such situations, whether on a plane, at work, or in family life, may we experience the greatness of God in our powerlessness and misery. May our hopelessness surrender to hope, and our anxiety to peace of mind, in the knowledge that God is always in control. In the words of the Psalmist, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).
