Retired NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore went on national television after spending nine months stranded in space and used the moment to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.
We’ve seen how most celebrities and public figures speak during a TV interview. They talk about themselves, their achievements, their struggles, and how they overcame them. Butch Wilmore had plenty of that to talk about. A decorated NASA career, a record breaking mission, and nine months that the whole world was watching. But he used that platform to talk about Jesus.
Nine Months Stranded in Space
Wilmore and Suni Williams launched on Boeing’s Starliner for what was supposed to be a two-week mission. A technical failure kept them up there for 286 days.
When he finally came home people wanted to know how he held it together through all of it.
Attending Church from Space
Wilmore didn’t treat faith as just a comfort thing. He said it was essential to him.
“To tie into my church family was vital. It’s what makes me go. I would watch services every single week and it was invigorating.”
He called it fellowship from afar. Not the same as being physically present but he needed it and he knew it.
It Was Hardly a Trial At All
When Wilmore sat down with host Kayleigh McEnany she had been reading his book ‘Stuck in Space’ the night before with her kids. She opened the interview by pulling out a line that she said stayed with her.
Wilmore had written that he was so full of faith joy and peace that his unexpected stay on the International Space Station was hardly a trial at all.
She looked at him and said a lot of people would find that incomprehensible. Why was it not a trial?
And Wilmore didn’t dodge it. He went straight to the gospel.
“Let me summarize the Bible in one sentence. Before the foundation of the world, God the Father determined to present God the Son with redeemed humanity that would honor, worship and glorify Him for all eternity — and in that I find purpose.”
That’s why it wasn’t a trial. He knew why he existed. He knew he had a purpose that was decided before the world was even formed. He said as a believer he is “part of a love gift from the Father to the Son” — and in that he finds purpose. That’s not a small thing to carry into a hard season.
When you know your life is tied to an eternal purpose no trials can shake you. And Butch Wilmore is living proof of that after nine months stranded in space.
He said so many people are grasping because this world is all they have. But when you know Christ you’re not living just for now. You’re living for eternity and that changes everything about how you carry a hard season.
Hope for Anyone Feeling Stuck
Kayleigh asked him one final question. She said people feel stuck in many situations and asked what his message was for them.
His answer was simple and straight.
“Jesus Christ, there’s hope. It doesn’t mean your life is going to be painless. It doesn’t mean you’re not going to have trials and struggles. But in all of those there’s hope in the now because of Christ and there’s hope eternal hope through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
If God could carry a man through nine months in space with that kind of peace then whatever you’re facing right now is not beyond Him. That same hope is available to you today.
WATCH: NASA Astronaut Butch Wilmore Shares Powerful Message on National TV
