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Don't miss the connection

Writer's picture: Zaibel TorresZaibel Torres


Finding your purpose in hard times
Finding your purpose in hard times


'My brothers and sisters, you will face all kinds of trouble. When you do, think of it as pure joy. Your faith will be tested. You know that when this happens it will produce in you the strength to continue. And you must allow this strength to finish its work. Then you will be all you should be. You will have everything you need. 'James 1:2-4


I recently visited my son. The airline had provided me with a $200 voucher, and since the flights were on sale, I decided to use it to book a trip to see my son and his family. I booked this flight two months in advance. On the day of the trip, I arrived at the airport an hour early. I went to check in my bag, and the attendant asked, “Do you need a printed boarding pass?” I replied, “I have the one on my phone,” to which he said, “That's all you need.” He placed the sticker on my luggage, I took it to the luggage area, and then proceeded to my gate. 


As I sat there, announcements were being made seeking people to "volunteer" their flight. They were offering $200 to anyone willing to volunteer, indicating it was a full flight. After half an hour, I heard over the intercom that the offer had increased to $800 for those willing to give up their flight. Something inside me said, "Go give up your flight and collect $800," but I refused. I thought, why would you even consider that, Zai? This trip is to see your grandbaby. My son was going to pick me up from the airport and take me to his church, which I hadn't seen yet, and introduce me to the volunteers who meet on Thursday. The highlight would be seeing Amirah—my one-year-old granddaughter. I had been counting down the days to this trip. 


It's now time to board the plane. As you know they board by zone so I check my digital boarding pass and see there's no seat number. I head to the counter, but since it's unattended, I join the line to ask the flight attendant assisting passengers. 


When I reach the front of the line and inform her that my digital ticket lacks a seat number, she tells me, "Please step aside, refresh the app, and it will provide your seat number." I move to the side, attempt to refresh, but still no seat number appears. She then asks me to wait until everyone is boarded, and she'll assist me. I remain standing, stepping just to the side where she can see me to avoid being overlooked, and I'm not alone; another lady is waiting with me. Eventually, the flight attendant gets a moment to ask for our names and investigates the issue. She then calls her manager for assistance, which doesn't make me feel very comfortable. 


Then she closes the door----- the door for boarding the plane! 

I look at her and I'm like, “What are you doing, I have to be on that plane”. 

She says, “Miss I know you are upset but you're not registered in my system for this flight” 

I tell her “I have a boarding pass, and you took my luggage” 

Then her manager says, “You should have checked in before you got here”

Now at this point, I am angry so I looked at him and said, “I did check in yesterday! That's how I got a boarding pass and I checked my bag at the front kiosk and they said nothing to me” 

The woman is telling me to calm down because my face is turning red and my eyes are welling up with tears as I watch the plane take off without me. I don't get weekends off, and this is the only one I have for the next few weeks that I can't reschedule. So, I took out my phone and snapped a picture of the girl and her manager, prepared to file a complaint.

Then I hear that same voice in my head, “No one is going to help you if you're mad” 

So I sat down and began to pray. The initial part was for repentance because I was about to say a lot of unpleasant things to them, but I held back and bit my tongue. The remainder of the prayer was asking God to grant me peace since I am now quite disappointed. 


The stewardess asks me and a few others to follow her. It was me, another lady similar to me, and three guys who volunteered their flights. They were pleased, which only made me more upset. It's noon, and I took the day off to catch this flight, and now I have to hope they can book me on another one, which, by the way, is also overbooked. The situation is just worsening. But I am no longer resisting; I am simply disappointed. So I wait in line, and the lady calls me over. 

“Torres” 

I walk over and I am looking at her through the glass and she says, “Walk around” 

I look her in the eyes, and my face must have shown how heart broken I was cause her entire demeanor changed. She took a deep breath in and said, “let me think” 

Then said, “You volunteered ok” 

I simply shrugged and thought, okay, but I was worried she might not find a flight for me because I volunteered. However, this lady made several calls and managed to get me a flight at 7 pm. Although my day was gone, she then said, “No worries Mrs. Torres, since you volunteered your flight, you are flying first class and we are giving you a voucher for your patience. Now you can buy your granddaughter a really nice Christmas present.” 


I was taken aback and felt quite guilty for the negative thoughts I had earlier about her and her manager. Now, I'm stranded at the airport for 7 hours, but I'm less angry thanks to the generous gift from the airline. So, I sat down and I opened the Bible and read the book of James, very slowly—like I was trying to decipher ancient hieroglyphics while wearing a blindfold! It is here that I am smacked in the face with James 1:2-4. With my headphones on and facing the wall like a child who had been punished for eating crayons, I prayed, asking God for forgiveness. I thought, “God, if you wanted to give me money, you just had to let me know! I mean, I have a whole wish list ready to go! Lol”


At 7, I board the plane and notice that everyone who was bumped is on this flight, all of us in first class. However, since it's a small airport, first class simply means sitting at the front, nothing more. We didn't even have TVs. A guy walks in wearing a sweatsuit, clearly having rushed to get there, and tells the stewardess, "I'm just happy to be here." I assumed he was like me and had been bumped. 

So he sits next to me and I say, "You got bumped too?" 

He says "No", 

I say, “Oh you volunteered” 

He says, "No I paid for this flight"

And I start laughing saying "I'm so sorry". 

So he asked me if I got bumped and I said yes. 

He says, "where you from?"

I say "CT"

In which he responds, "Greenwich?"

And with a tilt in my head and a side eye I respond, “Honey Im from the hood”

In which he starts laughing. That was all the icebreaker we needed. 

It turns out I was seated next to a very successful man. He had spent the afternoon doing business with well known actors. We talked throughout the entire flight. Somehow the conversation took a turn and we began discussing family, and he shared his upbringing with me. He came from humble beginnings, raised by a single mother. Without giving too much details of our conversation all I can say is, by the time the plane landed, we were both in tears talking about God. As he was about to disembark, he said, “What are the odds that you, of all people, would sit next to me? I'm an introvert, and I don't like talking to people. But today, of all days, you sit next to me and say all the things you said.” 

I knew what he meant because he only flies first class, I would never fly first class. God orchestrated the connection for me to meet this guy. I thought the blessing was in the airline giving me money for Christmas, but really what I will remember is meeting this man and the privilege God gave me to speak in a way that he knew God was speaking to him.  


What may seem as an inconvenience could be a divine meeting. 


Remember Joseph? We all know his story, right? A righteous man, Joseph receives a vision from God and shares it with his brothers. They plot to kill him, but thankfully, one brother suggests selling him instead. As a result, Joseph becomes a slave and excels in Potiphar's house. However, Potiphar's wife desires Joseph and attempts to seduce him, but he refuses her advances. Angered by the rejection, she causes Joseph to be imprisoned. Yet, it is in prison where he makes the connection to the palace. 


What about David? David was a shepherd boy who cherished his sheep. So much so that when a fierce animal like a LION threatened them, he faced it. Imagine that! If you had to confront lions, you'd be terrified of dying. But in the fields, David developed a reliance on God to rescue him from lions. He had experienced this repeatedly. We read about David and think he was such a courageous teenager facing the giant, and indeed he was. But he had confidence that God would save him because he had a history of being rescued from lions. David's connection to victory in battle was rooted in the fields, caring for the sheep. 



Consider Elijah. We remember how he stood on Mt. Carmel, a majestic figure proclaiming God's truth amidst adversity. However, that wasn't where he began. After delivering God's word to the King, Elijah was instructed to go to Cherith, the brook's name, alone. During a drought, with the brook dried up, he had no means to sustain himself, yet God provided for him supernaturally. This is where Elijah's ministry commenced, and he learned to rely entirely on God. Without this period, he wouldn't have developed the character, resolve, and strength to stand before the 4,000 and declare, “Choose this day whom you will serve.” Elijah's connection to the confidence in God's provision of fire was forged at the dried-up brook.


Where are you?

What season are you experiencing at the moment? More importantly, what is God working on? What is God nurturing within you during this time? This season is not in vain! The challenging period you are facing is fostering something positive.


'My brothers and sisters, you will face all kinds of trouble. When you do, think of it as pure joy. Your faith will be tested. You know that when this happens it will produce in you the strength to continue. And you must allow this strength to finish its work. Then you will be all you should be. You will have everything you need. 'James 1:2-4

Imagine Joseph going to the palace skipping all that drama. Would Joseph have the resolve to take on the task? 


Imagine David facing Goliath never shepherding. Would David had even offered to fight, or would he run the other direction?


Imagine Elijah going to Carmel without learning the valuable lessons he learned in depending on God at the brook for his provision. 


Perhaps your season is a financial crisis and you're learning to lean on his supernatural provision. Money will never be your God. 


Perhaps your season is heartache but your learning that Jesus is the one to console your heart. 


Perhaps your season is illness.

Last year I got sick and I thought I was going to die but in that process God taught me the urgency in taking care of our temples. I ate so healthy that my body healed and I taught my family to do the same and my mom who on her 65 birthday entered on a walker lead the conga line at her 80th. 


No matter what you are experiencing, if you rely on Him to guide, support, and instruct you, you will discover that this period is linked to your purpose. 


What is the reason for this pain? It serves to strengthen and heal the body of Christ, your brethren. Although your healing is a secondary outcome, the primary aim is the body's healing. Ready the bride of Christ and heal her wounds. 


Your purpose is far grander than you realize. Don't miss this connection!


Don't miss the connection
Don't miss the connection



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Purity and Peace

March 4th, 2025 Virtual only 

What to Expect

Seven weeks exploring the biblical truths. 

Week One: What is Purity

Week Two: What is the Body

Week Three: Vows and Covenants

Week Four: What is Peace

Week Five:  Renewing your mind

Week Six: Community

And feel free to join me at my home church Iglesia Bautista Emanuel, every Sunday at 11:00am. 

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