We only see the very beginning and the very end. We know when, where and how we were born and we know for certain there will be a death date. The alpha and omega. The starting line and finish line. The first and the last. We celebrate beginnings: birth days, first day at a new job, wedding days. We celebrate and honor endings: funerals, memorial services, headstones to last forever in our honor. But what about the middle?

The middle is what makes us. The middle determines the ending and can partially blame the beginning. The middle is where the challenges are – the marks in the road that leaves indelible marks in our DNA to push us towards the end designed. The middle creates the depth, creates the endurance, creates the power of humility and submission. The middle takes faith.

All of my life I have been taught about faith and how to have faith, but only through walking a journey of unknowns is faith born. This life is very foggy – it causes us to question every step and creates curiosity while ‘in the middle’. The fog weighed heavy before March 2020 – it consisted of politics, church going chaos, work restraints and frustrations, ongoing doubt if we are ever really “good enough”, child raising – public, private, home-school, aging parents, drama of the teenagers, etc. Not to mention the normal discussion with God on what He was actually calling us to do – you know, more than the attend church and try not to cuss.

And then March 2020 – the first 4 months of fog consisted of how to navigate our lives completely different and cut off from the world with those we live with. Then, navigating a deep debilitating fog of the loss of those we love and hold dear. Then, the fog of uncontrollable chaos all around, fear left to its own accord and life as we know it turning upside down. These are big discussions of faith in the overwhelming and paralyzing fogs of life. But what about the other? The ones that are God speaking to you to take a stand, take a step, to trust Him with your next steps of life and love and liberty.

I would propose that every day, the Lord is working in us His great plan for our lives and inviting us to join in. I know in my life, I can count three very clear moments that the Lord shared a glimmer of the next step I was to take and now looking back, more thankful than ever! First, the career path that I am now in – I knew in November 2015 while leading a bible study of ladies I worked with that my career was going to be something different in February 2016. I am the gal that hears the Word and is immediately ready to follow the Word – even if immediate obedience is not the request. So, I was going to quit my job and wait on the next gig – my amazing calm and realistic husband reminded me that I did not enjoy sleeping in a box, so maybe I should wait. In December 2015, I had an offer letter in my hand to embark on this journey I have been on for the last six years. Doing what I have been designed to do.

Second, is the story of my sweet Joel becoming an important part of the Haley family. Through ministry that led us on a wild journey with a sweet gal, my son came to us. Clif and I had to take a huge step of faith in receiving this newborn and trusting that the Lord wouldn’t completely destroy our hearts with our obedience. Five years later, he is a Haley. He defines the Haley name and never ever stops the adventure.

Last, for my list today, definitely not last in our lives – the creation of a ministry in downtown Knoxville serving those who currently live in the motels. Our church, through the A21 planning team, embarked upon a ministry that no one in our area had ever done or heard of. Today, even without me sitting in the leader sit, they are serving almost 600 people every two weeks with a hot meal and the hope of the Gospel of Jesus.

Today, we are about to embark on our next step of the journey in the fog. And the faith is required even more today than the times past. However, it is so much easier to trust the One who controls the fog after looking back on all the times He kept us safe in the past-time fogs of life. This day is a new day and another day where trust is needed for life, love and liberty.

May we always say yes to the Lord who made the fog, while we navigate the fog on our journey to the other side.