A Day-by-day devotional

February 19, 2023

Hold fast to faith

Chronological One Year Bible Reading Plan: Leviticus 23-25

Scripture of the Day: 1 Peter 1:3-6

I am not a fan of crazy rides. But I love the regular, good old roller coaster. The most thrilling and memorable one I ever rode was at the Efteling theme park in Kaatsheuvel, Netherlands. It was one that is within a tunnel that is almost pitch black. In open air roller coaster rides, you get to prepare yourself and brace for the ups and downs of the ride, because you can see where you’re headed. However, within a dark tunnel, you have no idea whether you would descend or ascend. You just get to feel it when you get there and feel the upturn at the pit of your stomach.

There can be seasons in our life that gets to be that way. You feel as though you are in the dark, clueless of where you’re headed. You just know you are where you are when you get there. Hence, the ride feels bumpier than usual. You venture into the unknown. But even when it comes to a point that you want to get off the ride, you cannot. It doesn’t stop until it stops. You have to finish the ride before you could get off.

When life gets to be that way, it is quite understandable that it could be scary. You do not know where it would take you. You just have to go with the flow. If you try to think of whether you would go up or down the next time, you would just feel all the more anxious. Therefore, it is much better to try to enjoy the ride. Feel each bump, shout with each sharp descent and be lifted to the exhilarating feeling of each height. Because after all, even if you do not know where you’re headed next, every ride comes to a halt. You know for sure, that every ride would at some point, stop.

We can never be certain of what our tomorrow would offer us. We do not know if what we are expecting for the days ahead would be what will happen. We may make plans but we cannot be sure that they will transpire. Nonetheless, no matter how difficult life can get sometimes, if we hold fast to our faith, we can be rest assured of one thing. That is, life on this earth is but a passing time. If you believe in Jesus Christ and that He is the source of eternal life (John 17:3), you know that one day, you will live in a place that is devoid of any form of suffering and evil (Revelation 21:4). And you do not have to second guess about that like a you would when riding a roller coaster in the dark.

Reflection: What depths or heights have you recently experienced? Are you ruled by anxiety and fear because you do not know how things will turn out? Or do you hold fast to your faith?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I praise you for the promise that each new day brings. I may never know what lies ahead in all of my days. But there’s one thing that I can be certain of, and that is the wondrous day of your salvation. Amen.