June 2025 From the Desk of Dave McLean

When guests first come to A Ray of Hope and join us in our Bible study, they are typically skeptical.  As they listen to the truths of God’s word, though, and how it truly is the path to life, success and peace, they most often are intrigued by the simplicity, blessings, power and love found in God’s way.  They listen, absorb, inquire and marvel at the Lord.  Then, as this process progresses, they come to a bridge that tests their faith.  I see this so often, and watch it unfold before my eyes.

The beauty of the Lord that they have seen is so amazingly appealing- seemingly within their grasp- and yet is across a bridge they are reluctant to cross.  So many are interested in obtaining the gift of salvation and joy in the Lord, yet it comes through a repentance and surrender they are not ready to make.  So they hesitate, but continue to listen to God’s Truth. They can see the difference in God’s way as compared to the ways that they have chosen, but their fear of the unknown of surrendering to God or surrendering their sin and lifestyle causes them to linger on in the flesh on their side of the bridge.  Many see the beauty, but walk away from making the decision of accepting God’s gift of salvation and the blessings that come with turning, in faith, to Him.

Sadly, when they shrink in fear, I can see their hope dissipate and their vision fade as they continue with the life that is familiar to them.  I will pursue and appeal, but often see that they are not ready to turn and live the God life.  It was awkward for me for years.  If I surrendered my fleshly ways, how would I embrace and live His?  However, as we pursue Him over time, He becomes more familiar and cherished.  I do trust that it is my part to live, show and speak of His ways, and trust the Lord with bringing them over the bridge, but it is sad to see them turn from the hope and faith that I can see they long for.  The truth, joy, power and love they see is very real and attainable, but not without change and cost, and that’s where they stumble.  It’s free to all, a gift from our Creator; He paid the price for our sinful decisions and He so wants to forgive us of our sins.  We don’t have to work for this, or meet some difficult standard- it’s available to all who see their need and turn to God in their desperation.

He does not require perfection, but He does expect pursuit.  This is challenging to us as His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts.  We will be asked to walk where we don’t understand or see, and we will be asked to surrender things and take up things that don’t meet with our desires, so we must recognize that our desires are not serving us as we think they are.  We have this illusion that we have control of our lives and circumstances and we are fearful of surrendering our perceived control.  We don’t realize that our decisions and control are not working for our good and we don’t know the Lord enough to see that His direction and will are always best for us.  We only begin to see this as we look beyond our sight and see His heavenly perspective.  Obtaining the best comes in surrendering that which seems best to us.

It takes more courage to turn to God, than to reject Him.  It takes more courage to walk contrary to the crowd than to follow it.  And it takes far more courage to surrender the familiar than to remain in it.  We can see His truth, life, power and love, but to obtain it, we must move from sight to action and we must act upon our beliefs.  Faith without action is merely thought and theory, and of little value.  Faith costs, but it pays far, far more than its cost.  Allowing God to redirect our familiar lives is a fearful thought, until you think about the consequences of not allowing God to redirect our familiar lives.  How foolish I was to linger across the bridge as long as I did.  How thankful I am that God spoke to me and brought clarity to the choices that lay before me.

Fear of turning to God brings upon us the worst of our fears.   Courage to turn to God overcomes the fear that grips us.  Fear is God’s warning to us that something is wrong, that we must act according to His truth in faith.  If we do nothing, the fear will not go away.  Fear is a miserable and consuming condition to live in, and we must realize that God calls us to face it and address it according to His truth.

Take courage, readers!  Take courage to cross the bridge of faith in God.  Take courage to walk, in faith, with God.  Life on earth is filled with challenges, and those challenges will come whether we walk with God, apart from God, or against God.  Wouldn’t you rather overcome your fears and doubts and face life’s challenges with God?  The challenges may not go away, but fear and doubt can, as we dwell in the shelter of the Most High.  Believe in Him, believe that what He says in His word is absolutely true and walk in that belief.  It takes courage to overcome fear and doubt, but that’s a whole lot better than lacking courage and dwelling in fear and doubt.  I’ve spent too much time doing that.  If we’re going to walk this life, it’s much easier to walk it in the faith and courage of the Lord, knowing that He’s in control of the circumstances in this life, and He has the wisdom and power for us to navigate our circumstances.  In addition, He holds our hope for eternal life.

My prayer for you is to take courage and cross the bridge of faith and faithfulness.  Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”   Courage begets courage, and courage pleases and glorifies our Father.  Diligently seek and please Him, and in doing so, we shall also be much pleased. 

Amen?  Amen! 

Dave