Faith @ First - July 17, 2026
On my morning walk this week, I witnessed a poignant reminder of our faith journeys.
A mother duck was leading her tiny ducklings across the neighborhood. Their journey wasn't easy. They crossed a sidewalk, waddled through thick grass, and passed a few barking dogs (not to mention a certain pastor/photographer). Yet the ducklings never strayed. They didn't panic when the path changed or scatter when the noise grew louder. They simply stayed close to the one who was leading them.
And because they trusted her, they reached exactly where they were meant to go.
Watching them immediately brought to mind the theme for worship this Sunday: trusting God through the barriers of life.
Life places all kinds of barriers in our path. Some are obvious—a difficult diagnosis, a broken relationship, financial uncertainty, or grief that feels overwhelming. Others are quieter: fear, doubt, disappointment, or simply wondering what comes next.
We often pray for God to remove every obstacle. But throughout Scripture, God doesn't always eliminate the barriers. Instead, God faithfully leads us through them. For our hope has never been in having an easy path; our hope is in the One who knows the way.
I hope you'll join us this Sunday as we discover how trusting God through life's barriers can lead us to places of hope, peace, and joy that we could never reach on our own.
Until then, pray this prayer with me : Faithful God, when obstacles rise before us and fear tempts us to wander, keep us close to You. Give us the courage to trust Your leading, confident that Your love will guide us safely through every barrier and into the future You have prepared for us. Amen.
Keep the Faith @First,
Pastor Nicole
