“‘I am the Alpha and the Omega–the beginning and the end,’ says the Lord God. ‘I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come–the Almighty One’” (Erickson, 59).
School immediately comes to mind when I think about a place where I struggle to see God’s involvement in our world. Although there are aspects I enjoy, attending a public school provides various challenges for students of faith. I have had some of the greatest joys of my life, being in student government, leading in clubs, taking classes I truly enjoy, and making friends I hope to have for a lifetime.
Yet, I have also been left in tears and experienced both my highest highs and lowest lows of life there. During those moments, I think of the words of the song, Way Maker, written by (Osinachi Kalu Okoro Egbu).
“Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper
Light in the darkness, my God, that is who You are.”
The words give me purpose and direction to move on in faith. I believe that ultimately, I am better with God than without, even though struggles do arise with faith.
As a junior in high school, one of the biggest aspects of junior year is the infamous SAT exam. Recently, my entire school district implemented a Saturday test day for the SAT and PSAT, which means I could not take those exams.
I spent months asking my administration to make some accommodations but was repeatedly told that they could not accommodate, and I had to either take the SAT on a Sabbath morning, or not take the exam at all. I was upset for many reasons, and contemplated if it was worth it to just take the test and skip out on church “just one time.”
It was then I prayed and tried my best to give my worries to God. After several months of prayer and battling within myself with this situation, God took care of me and allowed me to schedule the SAT exam on a non-sabbath day. I was impressed to reach out to La Sierra Academy and, though it will be later in the year, God opened the door for me to test there.
I am so thankful God pulled through. God does take care of us. We are on our faith journey and sometimes things don’t turn out the way we want, or we have a week of struggles or a few months like mine.
When searching through the bible for words of assurance, I looked to John, who in Revelation 22:13 writes, “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord, “Who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” I am better with my God, who is, who was, and who will be.”
Wonderfully, our God is a God of miracles and a promise keeper. God is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, and I have come to learn that my journey with God is more purposeful when remembering that our God is a mighty God of the ages and a God of eternity, and will always provide, even when things seem desolate.
Knowing that I can place my faith in the God who has been there since the beginning, will be there until eternity, and that has sustained our La Sierra University Church for the last hundred years, has filled me with immense hope and fulfillment, and fuels my journey to continue on in faith.
Lauryn Singh is a junior in high school and enjoys leading in the Youth Sabbath School, as well as being involved in this church community.