Pastor Tricia's Ramblings

Focus Verse: Colossians 1:13
“He rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.”

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where rescue felt like your only hope? I vividly recall a time when my family faced an overwhelming challenge. Years ago, my dad was diagnosed with throat cancer. The urgency of the situation was palpable when his ENT instructed us to rush him to the hospital in Charlotte. He needed an emergency tracheostomy to breathe, but my dad, being the strong-willed man that he was, refused to go by ambulance. Instead, I took the wheel of my mom’s car, fully aware that time was of the essence.

As I navigated the road with my mom’s anxious voice in my ear urging me to drive as fast as possible, the car began to run hot. I pressed harder on the gas, praying we would reach the hospital before the engine gave out. Just as we turned into the parking lot, the car’s motor went kaput. In that moment, our relief at arriving at the hospital overshadowed our predicament; after all, we had made it.

But soon, reality sank in. We were stranded over an hour away from home, with no other vehicle to rely on. We felt trapped and helpless, and the gravity of my dad’s illness weighed heavily on our hearts. We needed to be rescued.

At that desperate moment, our pastor, Mike G, and his wife recognized our plight and drove down in two separate cars, leaving one behind for us to use. Their timely assistance felt like a miracle—a tangible rescue in our time of need.

Similarly, as humans, we find ourselves stranded, separated from God due to our sins. Yet, God intervened magnificently when He sent Jesus to die for us (John 3:16-17). But the story doesn’t end there; Jesus triumphed over death and arose from the grave. Through His resurrection, we are not just saved but transformed. Our identities shift from lost to found, from stranded to rescued, and from abandoned to embraced.
Hebrews 2:14-15 emphasizes this profound truth: “Since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity so that by His death He might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.”

There is no bill coming; Jesus paid it all. Our identity is not rooted in what we have done but in what Jesus has accomplished on our behalf. The essence of who we are—our motivations, actions, and words—reflect the truth of our hearts. If we embrace the reality of our rescue, we can become more like Christ each day.

As we deepen our understanding of who God is, we simultaneously unveil who we truly are. This knowledge empowers us to live authentically in Christ and impacts the world around us.

No matter what you may be facing today—whether fear, uncertainty, or a feeling of being lost—remember that God is faithful. He waits with open arms to rescue you. The question remains: will you let Him?

In your struggles, rest in the assurance of your identity in Christ. You are not alone; you are rescued! As you seek Him, remember that every day offers a chance for transformation as you grow closer to Christ. Let His light guide you out of darkness into the Kingdom He loves.