Woman Finds God's Care in Travel Mishaps

A personal reflection on surrendering control and trusting God through unexpected travel experiences.

Jan. 31, 2026 at 11:31pm

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In a personal essay, the author shares how she has learned to surrender control of her travel plans to God, and the ways she has seen God's care and provision through various travel mishaps and inconveniences. From getting stuck in an elevator to flight delays, the author recounts how trusting in God's plan has led to unexpected blessings and opportunities to pray for others.

Why it matters

The story highlights the tension many people feel between wanting to be self-sufficient and independent, versus the call to surrender control and trust in God's plan. It encourages readers to adopt a posture of trust and openness to God's work, even in the midst of life's uncertainties and challenges.

The details

The author describes several travel experiences where she faced unexpected delays and inconveniences, such as getting stuck in an elevator and having a flight delayed due to a mechanical issue. Rather than getting upset, she chose to pray and trust that God was in control, and she was able to see His provision and care in the midst of the situations.

  • The author arrived in Oklahoma City on a Friday and had a 3:45 a.m. Uber ride to the airport for a 5 a.m. flight on Sunday.
  • While in the elevator on the way to the airport, it suddenly stopped between floors 6 and 7.

The players

The Author

A woman who has learned to surrender control of her travel plans to God and sees His care and provision through various travel mishaps and inconveniences.

The Young Couple

Two people who were stuck in the elevator with the author and were encouraged by her prayer.

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What they’re saying

“Thank you for praying; we should start doing that!”

— The Young Couple (Overheard by the author)

What’s next

The author plans to continue surrendering control of her travel plans to God and looking for opportunities to see His care and provision, even in the midst of unexpected challenges.

The takeaway

This story encourages readers to adopt a posture of trust and openness to God's work, even in the midst of life's uncertainties and challenges. By surrendering control and looking for God's hand at work, we can discover unexpected blessings and opportunities to grow in our faith.