4.5 Minutes Listen or Read
Uploaded: September 12, 2025
Several years ago, I was on a plane traveling for business. Right after the doors were closed but before the plane began taxiing to the runway, my name was called over the loudspeaker. To my surprise, I had been upgraded from coach to first class!
When I arrived at my new seat, I introduced myself to a gray-haired gentleman (someone who looked like he was in his middle 60s) sitting next to me. We chatted for a while about life and business. At one point he asked if I had been in my current vocation for most of my life. I told him, “No. Before this, I worked for several years as a police officer, a private investigator, an assistant pastor, and in a number of other jobs.”
When he heard the words assistant pastor, his countenance changed. With a splash of sarcasm, he fired a loaded question at me: “Oh, so you’re one of those! I have a question for you...Pastor!”
I responded, “OK. I’m not sure I can answer your question, but I’ll give it my best.”
Then he asked: “Why did God kill my boy?” He explained that his 38-year-old son had been killed in a car accident recently!
Before saying anything else, I expressed my condolences. Then I said, “Your struggle doesn’t seem to be one of belief, but rather of betrayal.”
He quickly exclaimed, “I don’t believe in God!!!”
I replied, “Sure you do. You feel betrayed by Him because of what He allowed to happen to your son.”
He shot back, “No, I don’t!”
I replied, “Sir, you do.”
Frustrated, he demanded, “Why do you keep saying I believe in God when it’s obvious I don’t?!”
I smiled and said, “Your first question was, ‘Why did God kill my son?’ If you truly don’t believe in God, then God couldn’t have killed your son. So your question isn’t about disbelief—it’s about betrayal.”
At that, the gentleman turned his head, looked out the window, folded his arms, and went silent for a couple of minutes.
Realizing this was a turning point, I waited patiently. After a short time, he turned back to me and said, “You’re good. You’re really good.”
I replied, “No sir, I just know how to listen. Your heart has a hole in it the size of Texas, and you feel betrayed by God. I cannot imagine your pain. But I can say this—our conversation has been God-ordained.”
Why do you say that?”, he asked.
I answered, “Because I'm supposed to be sitting in seat 22C. Instead, I’m sitting here in 4C, talking with you about something very close to your heart. I believe our Lord misses you and sent me to encourage you.”
He thought about this for a few moments, then asked, “So what’s next?”
I said, “Well, let me ask you something first. Was your son a Believer?”
“Yes,” he answered.
“Then know this,” I replied. “You will have all eternity to catch up with and enjoy your son’s presence again. I realize that doesn’t erase the hole in your heart right now, but it’s the promise of God—and the only true comfort available.”
I continued, “When you get home from this trip, I encourage you to get down on your knees, pray, and pour out your heart to the Lord. Pound your fists on the table, the bed, or the floor! Yell at the top of your lungs if you need to! I’ve done that myself when I was angry with God. And in my darkest hour, when I called out to Him in anguish, He met me there. And He can meet you there as well.”
Then I added, “Your Lord misses you. Begin your journey back to Him with daily prayer. You don’t need to go to church now —because church won’t fill this need. But talk to your Father in Heaven from the quiet of your home. He is the only One big enough to fill the hole left in your heart by your son’s passing.”
At that, the man cried and hugged me.
We never saw each other again, but to this day I still pray for him that God would hold him by the hand, help him overcome, and lead him back to a daily relationship with His Lord.
I share this story with all Christ-Centered Believers to encourage you to daily look for opportunities to minister to the needs of others. Since Christ is at the center of your life, and since the daily-disciplines are easier, look around and you’ll see opporunities to minister everywhere! People are hurting - and without God - at work, at home, at our hobbies, at the grocery store, in our families, and even seated next to us on planes. Let us make the efforts to find, teach, encourage and help them either draw closer to their Lord - or to return to Him!
If you have questions or comments, you can email me here.
In His Name,
Roy