Chapter 15 of The Bridge from OneDayBow has all the components of a good drama: the lead in, the conflict, the crescendo.  Then it’s all done and over and Tim lives happily ever after… Not so fast. Books may have an end, but life continues on.

Reading another person’s story, or even looking back on one of your own, it’s easy to forget that it plays out one moment at a time. The words of the Son, “Take up the shield of faith and then walk out what you know,” seem simple enough. Marching orders in hand, so just do it! And so, begrudgingly, Tim begins this leg of his journey. If I keep going I’ll be there in no time. But the desert is not on a time schedule. Once it begins, you don’t know when it will end – or how it will turn out. And that’s why the shield of faith is needed.

We already know what is in Chapter 15, at least I hope you do. (If not, please take a little time to read it. You can view it for FREE at onedaybow.com. Yes, free!)

Back to the story…  Tim tries to push on in his own strength, until he begins to reach the end of it. And things get darker. And scarier. And though he has moments of clarity, he has hours of confusion. But I think the questions he asks himself at the bottom of page 62 are so important: What did Tim believe? Had the desert changed the Truth?

What about you? Has _______ changed the Truth? (Fill in the blank)

What do you believe?

After typing that it was time to examine myself. I could easily come up with five things to fill in the blank in about 15 seconds. And no, none of them change the Truth. Why not? That question has to be answered by what I believe: I believe that God is Sovereign over His creation, no matter what. Faith is based on Who God is and that is not changeable. That doesn’t mean all smooth sailing because sin has corrupted this beautiful world. But, and this is a big BUT; God sent His Son to redeem humanity from the curse of sin. All who are willing to see their need for the Eternal Savior can receive forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ. I know, I know, you’ve heard it all from me before and by now I should come up with some new material. Which is exactly the point I need to emphasize!!!

When the confusion and conflict and discomfort and darkness and frustrations and fears hit; when you find yourself in a desert without end, what are you going to do? Go looking for something new? Dig deeper into your own resources? Call Myth Busters?  No! You use what you already have because if God was enough before the desert, He will be enough in the desert.

The question is not if God is enough, but will we trust Him enough to find out that He is enough?

“Why not lift the shield of faith that you laid on the ground?

Let it be protection from what’s causing pain and fear.

Act upon the Truth you know to sway the battle here.”

It’s what Tim needed to hear. But it wasn’t until Tim took hold of it and lifted the shield, (extinguishing the lies that were coming from without and within) that Tim could see past his circumstances to the Truth of Who the King is and who he is in the King. Too bad he didn’t use it sooner. But, better later than not at all.

So, for those things in the above blank – mine and yours: Will we address them with faith, or without? When life is good and trials few, with faith or without? When anxiety sets in and uncertainty is thick, with faith out without? When temptations rush in and there’s a battle to hold fast, with faith or without? When the fiery darts are flying or when the way seems clear, with faith or without?

What do you believe?