Barry Wilmore expected to be home in eight days. Instead, he found himself in a dangerous situation that jeopardized his return. But he managed the moment without panic.
NASA selected Wilmore as one of the astronauts for the first crewed mission of the Boeing Starliner, a vehicle for transporting crews to the International Space Station (ISS). Wilmore was a Navy test pilot who had flown combat missions and landed on carriers. It was his third spaceflight.
As the Starliner approached the ISS, the guidance thrusters began to fail. Wilmore knew that these thrusters were not only necessary for docking, but also for returning to Earth. If they could neither dock nor return, the result would be tragic. (An investigation blamed O-rings, leadership errors, and organizational shortcomings, reminiscent of the Challenger disaster).
Wilmore managed to dock the vehicle using the remaining thrusters. Soon after, the world learned that the Starliner astronauts were “stuck in space” (which is the name of Wilmore’s book). During the ensuing 41 weeks in orbit, Wilmore spoke at press conferences about the situation and was transparent about his faith. He returned to Earth on the SpaceX Dragon.
Wilmore described how he felt about his tense moments docking the malfunctioning capsule and his delayed return to Earth. “Why am I going to get frustrated or fret over (things) that I can’t do anything about? That is trust in the Lord.” During one interview from space someone asked, “What is your biggest takeaway from all of this?” “In all situations I am content,” he answered, “because I know my Lord is sovereign. He is working out His plan and His purposes for His glory and our good in and around all things.”
If you read the Bible you may recognize the language. The Apostle Paul was imprisoned, beaten, and stoned. He was shipwrecked, robbed, and starved. Yet he said, “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am” (Phil. 4:11). He managed difficulty by trusting not in himself or his own abilities, but “in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a peril of death” (2 Cor. 1:9-10).
Since God has given you the gift of eternal life through faith, you set your hope on Him. You are not bewitched by the moment, because your Father is there. You trust His providential hand. His plans for you will not be thwarted by evil in this world. You remain content in whatever circumstances you are, especially those beyond your control. It is a peaceful existence!
Wilmore said, “Before the foundation of the world, God the Father determined to present God the Son with a redeemed humanity that would honor, worship, and glorify Him for all eternity.” That eternal plan remains even when you are stuck in space.