Reflections from Maui
When getting to know new people, I’m often asked what I enjoy doing for fun, and one of my absolute favorite things to discuss is my love for travel. Due to the pandemic, I wasn’t able to travel as desired last year and wasn’t too sure at the time when I’d be able to plan my next big adventure. Fortunately, I was able to rekindle my love for travel last month in Maui! My boyfriend, who also loves travel and adventures, had also been itching to get away, so we made the decision to travel to Maui to celebrate our dating anniversary.
Over the years, I’ve traveled to several beautiful countries, but Maui was one of a kind! The rich, vibrant hues of Maui’s landscape were stunning. The mountain and ocean views were phenomenal, and the animals were absolutely fascinating. Each time I took in the surrounding landscape, I whispered a prayer of gratitude and thought to myself God is truly amazing. The raw beauty of Maui also caused me to reflect on the story of God’s creation in Genesis 1 and made me reverence God and appreciate His creation in a whole new way. Another thing that I appreciated about Maui was the simple way of life and positive, chill vibes. I enjoy the simple things of life, and I’m pretty easy going so I felt right at home. My boyfriend and I also left the majority of our schedule open, outside of our Road to Hana and Sunset Sail experiences, to relax and go with the flow, allowing us to strike the right balance between relaxing and being adventurous.
While our time in Maui was simply amazing, the start of the trip was a little rough for me personally. On the second leg of our trip from LA to Maui, we experienced some pretty bad turbulence. Honestly, at one point, I wasn’t sure if we were going to make it safely. I can’t even begin to describe the feelings I experienced and the thoughts that went through my head; but as I looked around me, I could tell that I wasn’t alone based on the looks on some of the other passengers’ faces. Surprisingly, my boyfriend seemed to be perfectly fine, continuing to read his book as if nothing was happening. I did my best to follow his lead, but found myself getting more and more anxious the longer the turbulence lasted and the quieter the cabin got. I reached across the aisle to grab my boyfriend’s hand for comfort and took deep breaths, hoping and praying we would land safely.
Once we landed, the heavy winds continued throughout the night – which made it hard for me to sleep, especially since I was already shaken up from the plane ride. The next morning, I asked my boyfriend if he experienced feelings of fear or worry at any point on the plane, and his response to me was “No, not really.” I asked him, “Is it because you trusted the professionals and their ability to navigate us through to safety?” He responded, “It wasn’t so much that I trusted the professionals, I trusted God to take care of us and get us here safely. The thought of dying also didn’t cross my mind, but if it did happen to be my time, I was at peace with that too. I ultimately turned everything over to God, because the situation was out of my control and there was nothing I could do to help in that moment.”
Y’all, I can’t even begin to fully describe the impact his response had on me. So much of the way he lives on a daily basis reflects his trust in God, but his response to this particular experience revealed a new dimension of his trust in God. It also reminded me of the way Jesus responded to the storm He and the disciples encountered during their journey across the Sea of Galilee in the following passage:
“As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Mark 4:35-40 NLT
Similar to Jesus’ peaceful response to the storm, my boyfriend’s response challenged and inspired me. In that moment and in the days to follow, I spent time reflecting on the ways I respond to situations that are out of my control. And the reality is that many times I respond with fear and anxiety just like the disciples. Of course fear and anxiety are natural responses to some situations, but I could sense that God was prompting me to begin trusting Him on a deeper level through this situation. In my moments of reflecting, God also revealed to me that I also try to control situations. And while my intentions in these situations may be good, He showed me that my desire to be “in control” is often times rooted in fear or a lack of trust.
As a result of these recent experiences and revelations, it’s clear that trust is an area that God wants me to grow and mature in during this season of my life. He doesn’t just want me to trust Him in some areas of my life or in some situations, but in all things. Now let’s be real, this can be very challenging depending on the situation, so I’ve been asking God to help me and show me how; and I’m confident that He will because Philippians 2:13 tells us that “God is working in [us], giving [us] the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.” One thing I know, however, is that my ability to trust God fully, ultimately starts with my ability to surrender. My boyfriend’s actions were a beautiful reminder of the power that lies in surrender, and the peace that we experience when we give God control and trust Him. So with the help of the Holy Spirit, my prayer is that I will begin taking steps to surrender control as well as my will and desires so that God can take full control and His perfect will be done in my life.
If you find yourself in a similar situation and desire to trust God more fully, say this prayer with me:
Lord, thank you for your desire to help me grow in the area of trust. Show me the areas of my life where I lack trust or have gotten in your way by trying to control situations. Teach me to trust you even when it doesn’t make sense or my circumstance says otherwise. Help me to walk by faith and not by sight. Remind me of the times you’ve seen me through in the past and make me more aware of your presence in my current situation. Help me to be patient during seasons of waiting and to trust your timing. Help me to release my will and desires so that I can experience your perfect will in my life. Help me to surrender control so that I can experience your peace. Help me to stand firmly on your word and your promises and to release feelings of doubt, fear, and anxiety. Help me to rest in your sovereignty, knowing confidently that you are with me, you are for me, and you are faithful. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Be encouraged,
Imanne
P.S. If you’re interested in seeing a few more pictures from my trip, check out this post on my Instagram (@leasia.imanne)!