By Trevin Wax, TGC.
When US Airways Flight 1549 lost power over New York City, Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger had 208 seconds to make the right decisions. With two failed engines and nowhere else to land safely, he guided the plane to a miraculous water landing in the Hudson River. The world marveled at his calm under pressure, his split-second judgment, his selfless concern for passengers. But, as N. T. Wright points out, Sully’s heroism wasn’t improvised. It was formed. A lifetime of training and discipline had prepared him for that moment.
In today’s world, we often think of authenticity as doing what comes naturally—following our impulses, being true to ourselves. But moments of courage, sacrifice, and wisdom don’t just happen. They emerge from a thousand unseen choices, from habits shaped over time. This is a crucial aspect of spiritual formation.
At the start of the third season of my podcast Reconstructing Faith, we looked at the life of Franz Jägerstätter, the Austrian farmer who defied the Nazis, refusing to swear loyalty to Hitler. His courage cost him his life. We asked the question, How is a person shaped into someone who can stand firm and reflect Jesus when everything else stands in the way? If the church is to rebuild and restore our witness to King Jesus, how do we grow into the kind of people ready for that task?
That’s why this season has focused on the question of spiritual formation—the steady, unseen work of the Spirit who prepares us for faithfulness in moments of testing. This season, we explored the disciplines that shape us—prayer, Scripture, worship—and the ways our digital age, therapy culture, and shifting church dynamics affect our spiritual lives.