He is our Alpha & Omega. {Don & Barb Calton}

Our chaos started on January 8, 2008, when a tornado hit our farm in Conway MO. We were in Springfield and couldn’t get home. The next morning, we came home to total devastation. We lost nine buildings and multiple machines. Other vehicles were damaged. Our home, milk barn, and another barn were all we had left. What a mess. What a loss. Where did we start?

Initially, we were in shock. Buildings were destroyed. Building parts lay on top of our machinery. Some had been blown into the fields. The neighbors soon learned of our loss. Many came to see what was destroyed.

We prayed, “God, where do we start?”. 

Our phone rang the next day. It was some of our neighbors who said they would come with their tractors and machinery. They volunteered to help clean it all up. Our church family, along with our family, neighbors, and friends, did come. We had around 75 people who showed up in our time of need. They cleaned, cleared debris, and brought food to feed all the workers. 

As this season ended, we knew God was there through it all. He protected our house and kept it safe. Plus, we weren’t there to experience the moment the tornado hit. We have learned God has a time for everything, and we just need patience to leave it in his hands.

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." Revelation 22:13 

In the ever-changing landscape of life, we often find ourselves grappling with uncertainties and unforeseen challenges. But in the middle of it all, we can take solace in the unchanging character of our God. He is our Alpha and Omega, the constant presence in our lives, from the beginning to the end.

Through the storms of life, it is vital to remember that God is the source of all good things. James 1:17 reminds us, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." Our God is faithful, and He gives us everything we need for life and godliness. When we trust in Him, we can be assured that His provisions are sufficient for every trial we face.

However, there are moments when life's trials leave us shattered and broken. We may experience the pain of loss, whether it be a job, a loved one, or a dream we held dear. In these dark moments, we must hold onto the truth that our God is not only a giver but also a taker. Job, a man who endured immense suffering, declared, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised" (Job 1:21). Even in our anguish, we can find peace in knowing that He has a purpose, and His plan is perfect, even when we don't understand it.

When natural disasters strike and leave devastation in their wake, we may be tempted to question God's presence or His goodness. But in these moments, we must remember that though the tornado may destroy, we are not lost without Him. He remains our anchor in the storm, our rock in the chaos. Psalm 46:1-3 assures us, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging."

As we journey through life's uncertainties, let us hold fast to the truth of God's unchanging character. He is our Alpha and Omega, the giver of all good things, and the taker when it serves His divine purpose. In the face of adversity, we find solace in His unshakable presence. So, let us trust in Him and find peace knowing that we are secure in His hands, no matter what storms may come our way.

We worship Him as Alpha and Omega.