ISS astronaut Butch Wilmore says faith in Jesus saved him after Trump blamed Joe Biden for delayed return
PALM BEACH, FLORIDA: NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore finally made it back to Earth after spending nine long months in space, but he didn’t simply credit technology, NASA engineers, or even Elon Musk for his rescue.
Instead, Wilmore said it was his faith that carried him through.
"It all works out for those that will believe," Wilmore said in a newly released interview. "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."
Butch Wilmore said a prayer before liftoff and his faith never wavered
Wilmore, a devout Christian, has never been shy about his beliefs and he made sure to bring his faith with him to the International Space Station (ISS). Born and raised in Tennessee, the astronaut lives in Texas with his wife Deanna and their two daughters Daryn and Logan - all active members of Providence Baptist Church in Pasadena.
Before his June 5 launch, Wilmore took a quiet moment to pray, huddling with his crewmate Sunita Williams and the technicians before heading into space.
Back home, his daughter Daryn was just as steadfast. She told the Daily Mail, "The Lord has given all of us a peace throughout all of this, and we know it was His plan."
When Wilmore and Williams finally splashed down off the coast of Florida at 5:57 pm ET on Tuesday, March 18, Daryn saw her father just a few hours after his medical evaluation. She didn’t waver in her belief that God had been in control the entire time.
"The Lord has blessed us in this time, and we know He’s in control of it," she said on the day of her father's return.
Why Barry Wilmore’s mission turned into a nine-month ordeal
Wilmore and Williams were originally scheduled to return home on June 13, but their ride — the Boeing Starliner — had other plans.
A cascade of technical issues made the spacecraft unsafe for their return, forcing NASA to repeatedly delay their journey back. The situation quickly spiraled from a frustrating delay to a full-blown crisis, drawing attention from the White House.
President Donald Trump wasted no time calling out former President Joe Biden for “abandoning” the astronauts in space.
Trump even turned to Elon Musk, asking him to get them as soon as possible.
Not long after, NASA announced a new, earlier return date for Wilmore and Williams.
Wilmore and his family were already prepared
While still in orbit, Wilmore sat down for an interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network, where he reflected on the biggest lesson he took away from his time in space.
"However [God's plan] plays out, I am content because I understand that," Wilmore shared. "I understand that He’s at work in all things. Some things are for the good—go to Hebrews 11—some things look to us to be not so good, but it all works out for His good for those that will believe."
Before the mission, Wilmore said he and his family had already prepared for whatever would come because they "trust in sovereign God."
"Whatever the plan is, we're ready for it, whatever that might be," he said.
His wife Deanna echoed that sentiment, explaining that their faith wasn’t about expecting everything to go perfectly - but about trusting that God had a purpose, no matter what happened.
"We're not saying this means that nothing bad will happen or the Starliner will bring Barry home safely, but whatever the Lord does will be for our good and for His glory," Deanna said ahead of the June flight.
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