On Tuesday 17th December 2024, we commemorate an incredible milestone: the 121st anniversary of the Wright Brothers’ first powered flight. On this day back in 1903, two brothers from Ohio defied gravity and human doubt, soaring into history with a 12-second flight over the sand dunes of North Carolina. While it might not sound like much by today’s standards—12 seconds barely gets your kettle to boil—it was a game-changer for humanity.
Their story reminds me of the faith we need as Christians. At some point, we all face those moments where we have to trust God for the impossible. Like the Wright Brothers, we stand on the edge, having worked and prayed, but still needing that divine ‘lift-off’. Faith, much like aerodynamics, is invisible, yet it carries us in ways logic never can.
Consider this: the Wright Brothers didn’t just wake up one day, dust off a few wings, and achieve flight. They spent years testing, failing, recalibrating, and…did I mention failing again? Sound familiar? Maybe you’re in a season that feels like years of hard graft and discouragement. But here’s the encouragement: God is the wind beneath your spiritual wings, even when it feels still.
Hebrews 11:1 reminds us, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” The Wright Brothers couldn’t predict how flight would revolutionise the world—they just put their faith into action. Let this be a nudge for you to reimagine what God might be calling you toward, even in the face of risk.
Reflection Verse
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” — Proverbs 16:3
Reflection Question
What is one ‘big dream’ God has placed on your heart that you’ve been reluctant to pursue? Are you willing to take that first faithful step, trusting that God is your lifeline?
A Moment to Reflect with an Encouraging Action
Today, take a moment to journal about the dreams and callings God has given you. Then, pray with boldness over that list, asking God to help you trust Him for the next step. Remember, you don’t need a perfect plan—what you need is faith in your perfect God.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of vision and for planting dreams within our hearts. Help us to trust You for the courage to step out in faith, even when the gravity of fear or doubt pulls us down. Just as You gave the Wright Brothers the inspiration to defy the laws of nature, give us the boldness to soar into the plans You have for us. Teach us to lean on You as the wind beneath our wings. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
