Reed's Reads of Wisdom Wednesdays: Faith Before the Fire: Holding On When the Battle Has Just Begun

“We’ve only been back an hour… and the world is already falling apart.”

With those chilling words, readers are thrust into the storm of Chapter 2 from S.O.L.A.D.™ Book II: The Angelo & Angeline Chronicles™. It’s not just the beginning of a new story—it’s the beginning of a spiritual, emotional, and physical war for the soul of Memphis and beyond. The skies are cracking with lightning. Dragons fly. Demons march. And yet, in the middle of it all, a group of imperfect heroes chooses to stand firm on faith—even when the ground beneath them trembles.

This week, we draw wisdom from that moment. Because beginnings—especially the kind born from calling, destiny, and divine appointment—don’t often come with clarity. They come with chaos.

When Faith is All You Have

Let’s start here: Beginnings rarely feel like victory. They feel like confusion, fatigue, resistance, or fear. In Chapter 2, Angelo and Angeline don’t re-enter a peaceful city. They don’t get parades. They get dragons. They get encircled by an unknown dome. They get demons with battle-axes.

But they also get purpose. And they respond the only way true soldiers of light can—with action rooted in belief, even if the full picture hasn’t formed yet.

“Have faith and pray that Kevin, Juanita and their world are all right.” – Wiseman J

That line is more than support. It’s strategy. It’s a reminder that faith isn’t passive—it’s preparation.

Faith Doesn’t Mean You Know the Way—It Means You Walk Anyway

In this chapter, the characters don’t have a 10-step plan. They don’t have clarity on who or what is causing the attack. The Demon Master is supposed to be dead. They just got back from a brutal rescue mission on another world. But they don’t get a break. They get a call to fight again.

And what do they do?

They suit up. Shield up. Sword up. They show up.

That’s what faith looks like when the journey begins: action in spite of uncertainty.

In life, we often wait for every door to be labeled before we walk through it. But beginnings—real ones—often come with ambiguity. It’s your faith that allows you to say, “Even if I don’t know exactly what’s ahead, I trust who’s sending me.”

Hebrews 11:8 (MSG) — "By an act of faith, Abraham said yes to God’s call to travel to an unknown place… and he set out without knowing where he was going."

Like Abraham, like Angelo and Angeline, we must walk even when the map hasn’t fully loaded.

“I Can’t Become Him…”

One of the most powerful internal moments in this chapter is when Angelo quietly utters, “I can’t become him.”

He’s referring to the Demon Master—and the fear that he’s not just fighting a villain, but a version of himself he hopes he never becomes.

That’s the crux of faith at the beginning of a journey. It’s not just about believing in God. It’s about believing you won’t self-sabotage before you get where you’re going.

Fear isn’t always external. Sometimes, fear is the voice that says:

• “You’re not ready.”

  
  

• “You’ll never change.”

  
  

• “You’ll fail just like last time.”

But as this chapter reminds us, faith isn’t the absence of fear—it’s the presence of obedience despite it.

The Power of Partnership When the Battle Begins

Angelo and Angeline don’t fight alone. Neither does Jeff. Wiseman J is right there in the middle of the chaos, reminding them that they are not alone in the struggle. That’s what community looks like at the start of a mission.

If you’ve ever tried to launch a business, build a ministry, or start a healing journey—you know the beginning is the hardest. That’s why God places wise people (like Wiseman J), passionate friends (like Jeff), and loyal co-laborers (like Melanie) alongside us.

This chapter shows us that the real threat isn’t always the demon in front of you. Sometimes, it’s the isolation you let settle in behind you.

Starting the Journey Means Saying “Yes” Before You’re Comfortable

Angeline doesn’t hesitate to launch purity arrows or form protective force fields. She doesn’t wait to “get clarity.” She knows she has been trained for this, even if she didn’t know this was coming.

“Let’s just work together and put an end to this.” – Angeline

Real beginnings are messy. But in that mess, you find the miracle of forward motion.

You don’t need perfect timing. You need willingness.

When the Enemy Comes in Like a Flood… Faith Is the Standard

Scripture says:

“When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.” – Isaiah 59:19 (KJV)

And that’s what we witness in Chapter 2.

The flood: dragons, demons, destruction, portals. The standard: purity bombs, force fields, unity, hope, faith.

Angelo and Angeline aren’t superhuman because of their powers. They’re super because of their convictions. They refuse to retreat. They refuse to compromise. And in doing so, they remind us of this truth:

Your beginning doesn’t need to look perfect. It just needs to be grounded in purpose.

Lessons from Chapter 2: How We Apply This to Real Life

Let’s break it down.

Here’s how Chapter 2 maps onto your everyday faith journey:

S.O.L.A.D.™ Moment	Real-Life Parallel
Angelo flying into battle while still bleeding	Showing up at work, ministry, or life still wounded but committed
Angeline keeping a force field up under pressure	Maintaining boundaries, peace, or faith under emotional strain
Wiseman J and Jeff risking their lives for others	Mentors, pastors, and elders standing in the gap for our growth
The arrival of Titan, then Destruction	New, stronger challenges right after you overcome your last one
Heroes misunderstood by the authorities	Being rejected or wrongly accused even when you're doing the right thing
Portal-warped time	How trauma and spiritual warfare can distort your sense of progress

Final Thought: Don’t Wait for Easy. Start Because It’s Hard.

The words “It’s just the beginning” are not just the title of the chapter. They’re a warning. A promise. A calling.

When God gives you a mission, don’t expect it to start with trumpets and fanfare. It may start with dragons. With confusion. With losses. But beginnings bathed in faith lead to legacies.

The faith you need most is the one that says:

• “I don’t see the full picture, but I’ll still step forward.”

  
  

• “I don’t feel qualified, but I’ll still show up.”

  
  

• “I don’t know what’s next, but I trust Who sent me.”

And that’s where your real journey begins.

Reflection Questions for the Reader:

1. What is your “stormy sky” moment right now—the thing that makes it hard to begin?

   
   

2. Have you been waiting for clarity instead of moving forward in faith?

   
   

3. Who are your “Wiseman J” and “Jeff”—those guiding you or walking with you?

   
   

4. What weapon (faith, scripture, prayer) can you sharpen to stand firm like Angelo and Angeline?

   
   

Scripture Tie-In:

• Proverbs 3:5-6 (MSG) – “Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen… he’s the one who will keep you on track.”

  
  

• 2 Timothy 1:7 (MSG) – “God doesn’t want us to be shy with his gifts, but bold and loving and sensible.”

  
  

• Hebrews 11:1 (MSG) – “The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living.”

S.O.L.A.D.™ Spotlight:

Book II of S.O.L.A.D.™: The Angelo & Angeline Chronicles is more than a story—it’s a reminder that the battle is real, the mission is divine, and the start of something powerful often looks like the storm before the calm. Start your journey today.

Buy your copy and join the fight at: www.tyronetonyreedjr.com/the-shop