Living Beyond the Almost: Why Almost Isn't Enough

The word "almost" carries both dangers and deliverance. It's that space between tragedy and triumph, between breaking and breakthrough. It's standing on the mountain peak but feeling the exhaustion that makes you want to turn back. It's being caught between your dream job and the disappointment of another failed interview.

When we're in that "almost" place, we often cry out "not yet" because we haven't given up. We hold onto that "yet" because we know God will have the final say.

The Shallow Waters of Almost

Many of us live in the shallow waters of "almost":

•  We almost gave up

•  We almost lost our family

•  We almost let bitterness take hold

•  We almost surrendered to anger

•  We almost stopped because of fear

•  We almost quit in discouragement

We've all been to that place where we wanted to throw up our hands because it was almost too much. But God's grace moves us beyond the "almost" into His favor.

What does it mean to be "almost gone"?

In the Psalms, David wrote, "But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold." David had reached a place where he was losing grip, caught up in envy and despair. He was almost ready to give up and turn from God.

Many of us have been shaken by:

•  The winds of injustice

•  Fatigue and depression

•  Sadness that wears us down

We find ourselves on the edge, trying to hold onto our peace and maintain what little we have left. We've all had moments where we've said, "Don't make me lose my religion."

How does God rescue us from our "almost" moments?

The Lord doesn't wait for us to be perfect. He catches us in the midst of our stumbling. It's like that moment when you trip and you're certain you're going down, but somehow you catch your balance. That's God's grace.

Remember:

•  Almost gone is not gone

•  Almost falling is not falling

•  Almost quitting is not quitting

•  Almost dying is not dying

Don't confuse weakness with defeat. Don't confuse shortcomings with failure. God knows our struggles and His grace always goes ahead of our collapse. He is always by our side, ready to catch us.

What can we learn from the prodigal son's "almost lost" experience?

The prodigal son was almost lost. He squandered everything and found himself eating with pigs. But in that moment, he recalled the nature of his father. It wasn't the pig pen that got him out; it was knowing his father would treat even his servants better than he was being treated.

We must learn to recall the goodness of our Heavenly Father when we feel abandoned. We must remember:

•  God promises never to leave us nor forsake us

•  The times when nobody else was there but God

•  The moments when we thought we ran out of time, but God was right on ime.

Our Heavenly Father is good all the time, and all the time, God is good.

How does God help us find our identity when we feel lost?

Many communities, especially the African American community, have wrestled with identity. We may feel like:

•  Strangers to our ancestral history

•  Disconnected from our spiritual roots

•  Separated from our family culture

But we have a Heavenly Father who is always running toward us, and we can always run back to Him. God reclaims all those who have wandered away. He connects us to our true identity in Him.

Remember: Almost lost isn't lost. The devil almost had you, but almost isn't enough.

Why does God preserve us through our "almost died" moments?

Think about Paul on the ship during the storm. Everyone thought they would die, but Paul said, "No, we will all live. None of us will be lost." Why? Because God had a purpose and a promise to keep.

As long as God has a purpose for your life, nothing in this world can stop that purpose from being fulfilled, not even you. Until God is done with you, your presence here is secured.

Sometimes it's our purpose that keeps us moving forward when:

•  Our heartaches seem insufferable

•  Illness and pain overwhelm us

•  Trials and tribulations surround us

Life will be life. Storms will come, emotional conflicts will rise, financial challenges will appear, and family drama will show up at the worst times. But God watches over us, ready to rescue and deliver us.

How can we live beyond our "almost"?

What we have survived gives birth to what we must become. Through our "almost" experiences, we gain:

•  Insight into faith and endurance

•  A deeper appreciation for hope and joy

•  Tools to hold onto God's unchanging hand

We may have almost been gone, almost been lost, almost died, but almost is not enough. Almost did not take us out. Almost did not have the final say.

We must live our lives beyond:

•  The pushback

•  The barriers

•  The hills

We must keep focusing on what God is pressing us toward. Don't let your "almost" block your victory.

Life Application

Remember who you are—a child of the Almighty God. You are royalty, part of the kingdom of heaven, placed in this world and called by God to carry out a purpose He has defined for your life.

Here are practical steps to move beyond your "almost":

1.  Tell your "almost" testimony. Someone needs to hear how close you came and how God rescued you.

2.  Use social media to share God's goodness. Instead of letting negative messages dominate, tell how good God has been to you.

3.  Look back not in regret but in awe. Take note of God's fingerprints on your life and how He has carried you through.

4.  Extend grace to others. Use the same mercy, love, and grace God has shown you to lift up others.

5.  Refuse to settle for survival. Step into a thriving mode that your "almost" prepared you for. Always reach for the highest peak because God is calling you to a level of righteousness above all others.

Ask yourself:

•  What "almost" moments have I experienced that I need to share with others?

•  Am I focusing more on my "almost" failures or on God's "always" faithfulness?

•  How can I use my "almost" experiences to help someone else who's struggling?

•  In what areas of my life am I settling for survival when God wants me to thrive?

Don't focus on your "almost," focus on your "always." God has always got something in store for you. He will always be by your side. He will always show you the road He wants you to travel. He will never leave you or forsake you.

Make your everydayactions an opportunity to remember that God is your "always." Don'tgive your "almost" the satisfaction of almost destroyi