Trusting the Pilot: How Faith in God Helps Us Endure Life's Turbulence

A businessman once saw a young girl sitting alone on a plane and wondered if she was afraid. Later, when the aircraft hit turbulence and shook violently, everyone panicked, while she remained calm. After the plane stabilized, the man approached her and asked, “How did you, a little girl, stay so calm in such a frightening situation?”

She answered peacefully: “The pilot is my father.”

When we feel that we’re in God's hands, it’s easier to stay calm. Rabbi Elazar Azikri, author of Sefer Chareidim, writes that there is a Torah-level mitzvah for a person experiencing suffering to believe that it’s like the pain between a father and son — like a doctor healing his child. The author of the Tanya, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi says that the one who believes has no suffering, because he trusts that it all comes from his Father in Heaven and must therefore be for the good.

When we truly believe that everything comes from our loving Father in Heaven, it becomes easier to cope. As the “Divrei Chaim” of Sanz said after returning from the funeral of his son Aryeh Leibish (who died at age 7): A man walks peacefully down a path and suddenly feels a strong blow to his back. Turning around, he sees it was his beloved friend who struck him affectionately. Initially, he may have been inclined to be angry, but knowing it came from love, he accepts it with joy. The Divrei Chaim said, “Today I received a terrible blow. But when I considered who gave it to me — my beloved Creator, I decided to accept it with joy.” Immediately afterward, he began the morning prayers with full voice: "Give thanks to the Lord, proclaim His name, make His deeds known among the nations! Sing to Him, make music to Him..." (Psalms)

The Rebbe of Slonim said: “The source of a Jew’s joy is feeling that God governs his life. This joy comes from deeply sensing that God is a compassionate, faithful Father, always watching over him for his good. Whether or not one understands the pain, one is filled with pure faith that ‘everything the Merciful One does is for good’ (Berachot 60).”

Reb Avraham Elimelech of Karlin once visited a couple grieving their young son, a newlywed who had died suddenly. They were devastated. He said to them simply, “Who did this? The good Father.” Hearing those words, spoken with pure, unwavering faith, brought them comfort and gave them strength to go on.