The Atlantic Union Conference is a beautiful mosaic with over 134,000 member “pieces” representing diverse cultures across the northeastern United States and Bermuda. Our trust in God’s unchanging love and our 28 fundamental beliefs as Seventh-day Adventists continue to be the golden threads that weave our experiences together. It’s the unwavering belief that God’s guiding hand is leading us, even when we don’t comprehend the path ahead.
My wife and I homeschooled our children, and their curriculum included taking them on educational trips and to museums. I remember one day when I announced that we would visit the Kennedy Space Station in Florida; the children’s eyes sparkled with curiosity and excitement, yet they knew not exactly where they were going. All they knew was that they were going to Florida, had cousins there, and trusted their parents’ ability to take them there safely. Hearts brimming with anticipation, they held hands and stepped into the unknown. Proverbs 3:5, 6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” As God’s children, we, too, journey through life’s mysteries, often unaware of the destination; but our trust in the Lord guides us forward.
God Is Our Guide
Just as parents lead their children, our heavenly Father directs our steps. Psalm 37:23 assures us: “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.” Our delight in God aligns our footsteps with His divine purpose. We may stumble, but He steadies us. Sometimes we may miss a turn, but He recalibrates our course.
Ellen White wrote, “Every servant of God is to be guided by the Holy Spirit. It is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. Our path, however rugged it may be, is marked out for us by the Lord; and in it we must walk. We must believe in Christ as a personal sympathizing Saviour. He loves us and gave himself for us. He doeth all things well,”—Letters and Manuscripts, vol. 16, MS 42, 1901, p. 1. We find solace when we relinquish control and surrender to God’s guidance and divine will. The twists and turns of life become part of a grander purpose. Our trust in His wisdom transforms uncertainty into adventure. We become like little children, holding God’s hand, knowing that every step is assured and purposeful.
We continue to witness God’s faithfulness and enduring guidance. Through valleys and mountaintops, He remains steadfast. Our lives bear witness to His love—a love that surpasses human comprehension. Psalm 48:14 declares, “For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.” His love is the compass that points to our eternal destiny. Our fundamental beliefs, hopes, and very existence—are all rooted in the reality of His unchanging love.
So, dear brothers and sisters, trust in the Lord. This world is not your final home. Let God’s love be your compass and His promises your GPS. In trusting Him, we discover that the journey is a guided sacred mission—a testament to His faithfulness until the day when faith becomes sight and we see Jesus’ face. Meanwhile, we journey onward, hand in hand, guided by the One who knows the way.
