January 17, 2023
Keep the Faith
Kelly Balarie
Today’s Truth
I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty (Revelation 1:8 NIV).
Friend to Friend
I was headed up, up, up. My car climbed the towering, sky-high road up the bridge. On the ascent, I could see everything, boats below, a beach lining the shore and cargo ships out the left side of my window. But there was one thing I could not see. The other side of the bridge.
From my vantage point, it looked like the road just ended. It looked like I'd get to the top of the bridge and suddenly, fall over it, into deep waters. Ahhhh, I'm going to die! That's how it appeared as I drove...but at the same time, I knew that wouldn't happen.
Why? Because, even though I couldn't see, I knew there was another side. Even though it appeared to my natural eye that I was going to fall, knowing kept me going.
Faith is the same way. It can 100% look like we are going to fall in life. We think, "There is no way I am coming through this." "This will never work out." "Everything I see is telling me I am bound to ruin." We see the road that looks like our demise. The end.
Maybe you are there now. With your marriage? With your health? With finances? With how you feel about yourself? With your future? With your children?
Friends, I can't tell you how many times I've stared at a bridge to somewhere that appeared 100% broken. Many times, it looked like I was bound to fall. There have been health scares like Multiple Sclerosis, an unexpected lump in my chest, marriage turbulence and family divisions, along with a host of other things. Every time, my natural vision told me -- everything is all over!!!!
But, just like in the car driving across the bridge, after my initial apprehension, I knew better. I remembered, with God, what looks like an ending has full ability to become a new beginning. My life-roads would keep going! I had a knowing in my going that God’s faithfulness would not end. It is this knowing in our going that helps us traverse the other side of bridges to nowhere.
But, how can we know, when we don't know if we will make it?
When I face an impossible situation, I gaze at the unchanging nature of my incredible God. The more I know Him, the more I know that I’m going to be okay.
“‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty’” (Revelation 1:8).
Who God was, is who God is, and who God will be. When we know who God is and His unchanging nature, we know that our roads do not end. They continue. Let’s drive up our broken roads relying on His faithfulness.
Let’s Pray
Dear Lord, I desire to know You more. I long to understand Your nature. I want to rely on Your character. Will You give me a greater understanding of who You are? Will You empower me, by Your Holy Spirit, to know You more? Will You help me to trust You in difficult situations? You are faithful. You are true. You do not change. You are reliable, dependable, and able. I want to lean on You more in my walk. Give me faith to trust you in all ways, at all times, in all days. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
How does knowing God’s character increase faith and hope for your future?
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© 2023 by Kelly Balarie. All rights reserved.
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Originally published Tuesday, 17 January 2023.
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