“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT)
Trust is a very sacred and fragile thing. Though it can take years to earn, it can be lost in a heartbeat. While it can’t be seen, it can be evidenced in many ways. Like faith, it can guide our decisions, but when violated can cause an irreparable break in a relationship. We’re so reluctant to put our trust in God, who has never failed, yet blindly trust others whom we barely know.
For example, have you ever picked up a hitchhiker? Bought something from someone at a yard sale? Taken a prescription medication? Eaten a meal in a restaurant? Hired someone to work at your house? Bought a used car? Driven on a highway? The list is virtually endless. Nearly everything we do from day to day demands some measure of trust, yet, when it comes to God, it seems we must have every “i” dotted and every “t” crossed. Why do you think that is?
In your remembrance, has God ever let you down? Have you ever begged Him for something you really wanted, but He didn’t give it to you? I have. When my wife filed for divorce, I begged God to save our marriage, but He didn’t. I’ve asked Him to heal someone I loved, but they died. I’ve prayed many prayers for many reasons, believing they were being prayed in line with God’s will and purposes, but heaven was silent. Yet, today, I have greater confidence and trust in God than ever before. How can that be? I know Him better now.
When my kids were small, they would ask for things that I could have given them, but it would have endangered them or in some way not been good for them. One time they didn’t like something we were having for dinner, so I asked them what they would like instead. They both, without hesitation, said: “ICE CREAM!” So, I asked them: “How often would you like to have ice cream?” To which they replied: “Every meal!” And much to their surprise, I said: “Okay!” Do you know how long that lasted? One meal. Why? Because they had no idea what they were really asking for.
We’re like that with God. We want what we want when we want it and expect God to give it to us on a silver platter. He sees the end of our life as clearly as He sees the beginning, and every second in between, and knows what we need, and understands it’s often not the thing for which we’re asking. But there are times He gives us what we think we want. That house, that car, that relationship, that _________, and you can fill in the blank, but it rarely, if ever, turns out as we expected. Trusting God requires discipline and faith.
What is it that you want most? A new job? A new house? A new relationship? To be married? To be single? To be forgiven? To be whole? To have purpose? Meaning? I found the answers to everything I thought I’d ever want, and more, in Jesus.
Now, I can say with the Apostle Paul, “I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised Him from the dead. I want to suffer with Him, sharing in His death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!” (Philippians 3:10-11 NLT) When Paul uses the word “know,” in verse 10, it’s the same word that’s used in Genesis 4 when Adam “knew” Eve and they had a child. It’s a term of intimacy, where two become one. Where one’s hopes, dreams, and ambitions are lost in the hopes, dreams, and ambitions of the One you love more than you love your own life.
That’s when you know who you can trust and why. That’s when you can look back on those “unanswered” prayers, sigh and think: “Now I understand! Thank You, Lord.”
These two things I know with certainty. You can trust God. You can’t trust your heart.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 