Watching the coverage on the War in Ukraine last night I couldn’t help but be struck by the thought that it’s like I’m reading a book where I have to turn each page to see what will happen next. I know what has happened in history in previous wars because those pages are already written but this is immediate and frightening.

One of my favorite verses is in Mark 4:40 when Jesus and the Disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee at night and a mighty squall came up which happened often because of the topography causing violent sudden storms. Jesus was asleep and the Disciples were terrified and woke Him. After he calmed the wind and waves, He asked them, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” The Passion Translation says “Why did you let doubt win?”

I thought about those two things this morning in quiet time with God because aren’t we all looking for the kind of faith Jesus had?

So I took that to God in prayer. Jesus was Jesus. He had that relationship with the Father. He had the authority to calm the waves and wind. He knew.

This morning in my devotional Jesus Calling, I read this excerpt: I have prepared this day for you with the most tender concern and attention to detail. Instead of approaching the day as a blank page that you need to fill up, try living it in a responsive mode, being on the lookout for all that I am doing.

As I turned all of these thoughts over to God and wanting to trust Him today and look for Him with expectation, He gave me these thoughts: Do not be afraid to take my hand and step in faith with Me. Faith is knowing I am with you. My promises are sure. I will never leave you nor forsake you.

Faith is the bridge to God. Why do I let doubt win?

I know how frustrating that can sound…faith is the bridge to God. I’ve been frustrated and am frequently frustrated by my lack of sure faith. But what I realized this morning was I don’t have control over today; I don’t have control over the next 4 hours. I like to think I do. How could we function if we were uncertain we could take a step?

We step out in faith every day. The sun will rise; the car will get us safely to work; our kids and grandkids will be safe at work and school; our projects will be completed and on time; there will be food on the grocery store shelves and we will be able to afford it; our health will hold secure today…physical and mental and spiritual.

I think it takes reaching a certain stage in life to appreciate all the blessings we take for granted and turn to God realizing those blessings come from Him and are sustained by Him.

I am learning not to trust in my faith. Thanks be to God I am learning to trust in Jesus’ faith. His faith and Word are sure and He holds out His hand to help me walk safely across that bridge of uncertainty to the place where I can embrace fully the reality that faith is knowing Jesus is with me.

I don’t know what will happen in the war in Ukraine but I do know God is in charge and I can trust the outcome to Him. That understanding is a bridge.