Did you know that Butch Wilmore, one of two stranded astronauts who returned to earth recently from the International Space Station, is a devout follower of Jesus Christ? The YouTube video above is an interview he did with Dennis Rainey while being stuck there for eight months. Honestly, I didn’t know this until I heard his interview just before he returned home. Here is what he said according to the daily mail news:

“NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore has revealed who he believes truly rescued him while he was stranded in space for more than nine months. The astronaut admitted that being stuck on the International Space Station (ISS) was not ideal but said: ‘It all works out for those that will believe. It’s bound in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ he is working out his plan and his purposes for his glory throughout all of humanity and how that plays into our lives is significant and important,’ Wilmore explained in a newly released interview.”

I was proud of him and encouraged by his faith. God used the horrible situation he was in as platform to share his faith to everyone who was following the news. It occurred to me that God can use the difficult situation we go through as a way to glorify Him if we remain faithful to Him. His testimony reminded me of the of the words in 2 Corinthians 4:7-11:

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.”

Here is another video by Dennis Rainey and his wife conducting an interview with Deanna Wilmore, Butch’s wife.