Trust.
In life we are told to blindly trust… trust the science, trust the education system, trust the government, etc. The world is constantly calling us to trust in a system, a person, ourselves, an ideology, an expert, a plan, a product or a process.
As Christians, we’re not called to place our trust in any of these. As Christians, we’re expected to obediently place our full trust in the maker of heaven and earth, God Almighty. And, as we trust, our faith grows stronger, which enables us to more boldly face life and what comes our way.
Trust is not about how we feel. Feelings are fickle and can lead astray, but rather as a believer, truly trusting is the act of intentionally and constantly placing our lives… every thought… every concern… every situation, every day, into the hands of a loving, capable, trustworthy, all-knowing, all-powerful God. And we’re to do it faithfully, no matter how things look or feel.
Trust requires action. Trust requires obedience. Trust requires perseverance. Trust entails staying positive and being grateful while not allowing fear, worry or complaining to take hold… all these things have no place in our hearts. They all need to be shown the door and not allowed to take root.
Trust requires believing. Trust requires faith. God deserves our trust as He has never let us down and never will let us down. He is a good God… a great God! He promises He has a perfect plan for all who place trust in Him (Jeremiah 29:11).
Are you trusting in Him regarding every area of your life? Are you trusting in Him to provide for your needs in this uncertain, ever-changing world? Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
Are you trusting in something or someone that can change, or in a perfect God who never changes?
Trust is a commitment… a commitment to not waiver in believing God’s promises. It is a daily decision. And when we fully place our trust in our loving, heavenly Father, we can have full assurance that all will be well because He is in control.
For me, these past few months have been a continuous exercise in trust. I cannot say I’ve handled everything perfectly, but I trust that God is working on me and refining what needs to be refined, changing what needs to be changed. I feel nowhere close to being there, but I’m thankful God loves me unconditionally, as I am, and that I can put my heart, my life, and my trust in His capable hands.
Christmas is my favorite time of year. I love the holiday celebrations, the candlelight church services, surprising my family by planning fun events to attend, traveling to see relatives. I enjoy listening to Christmas classics on the radio and sharing special traditions. It’s just a happy time in the year for me. Yet, this past December, the day after Christmas, we received a call that my uncle, one of my closest relatives whom also I consider one of my closest friends, had passed away.
He and I have always had a very special relationship, and his passing has left a void. To this day, I don’t understand why he was taken so soon. I always thought he would be around to see my kids grow up and to have fun adventures with them like he and I had together. All those plans came to an end when he passed… when that phone call came.
A call like that has a way of stopping you cold. My mind raced with questions, and the “why’s” started flooding my thoughts. It is difficult to wrap one’s head around such a devastating impact in one’s life. Yet, the reality for me was this: I had to put my trust in the truth that God knows best, and I don’t. And, in placing my trust in Him, I can experience peace in spite of the pain and unanswered questioning.
The peace God promises to believers is conveyed in Philippians 4:7: “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
I know that my uncle and l will see each other again one day. This truth has brought some healing, yet I still hurt. Knowing that we’ll be reunited again one day brings joy, yet knowing I can’t pick up the phone and talk to him or see him in the here and now brings sadness. That’s simply the reality, yet I hold to the Truth – Jesus, and trust that His plans, His ways are perfect, and He knows better than me or any of us. I’m thankful I can lean on Him and experience peace during difficult times.
As I have experienced in life, some things will never make sense this side of heaven. Isaiah 55:8 explains: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.” This verse reminds me that we’re not expected to understand everything, yet we are expected to lean on God and to put our trust in Him concerning ALL things.
Whether it’s a sinful world spiraling, covid, loss of a relationship, or other troubles, we’re to trust God through all the frustrations, changes, disappointments and challenges. He doesn’t just want our trust; He wants to carry our burdens and bring us peace in the process.
So, as half of our house flooded a few weeks ago due to a washing machine malfunction which affected five rooms and a hallway in under two minutes, I’m called to trust. As I spend my time looking for new flooring (something I really don’t enjoy doing), I’m called to trust.
All the unpleasant moments that come with life require each of us to make a choice. Do we trust in our Heavenly Father who never fails us, or do we place our trust elsewhere… in someone or something? The choice seems clear. I’m going to place my trust in the only unchanging, trustworthy option, and that is placing my trust in the One who is truth… the Savior!
Every day YOU have a choice. Are you going to place your trust in God… the very One who created you, who knows your life from beginning to end… who gave you breath? Are you going to trust Him when you don’t understand a situation? Are you going to trust Him when life throws an unexpected event your way? Are you going to trust Him when the “Why’s” are running through your head and you simply don’t understand?
It’s been a rollercoaster ride for many this past year. It’s been a wild ride for me and my family the past six months. I’ve decided if I have to ride the ride, I want Jesus at the wheel.
My hope is that you be encouraged in knowing that your Heavenly Father is in control, and placing your complete trust concerning all areas of your life in God’s hands is the best decision.
I pray you will find comfort in these beautiful scriptures as you hold to God’s promises. I pray you will be encouraged in remembering: despite the storms of life, the darkened clouds that may hover, the unknowns of both today and tomorrow, we as believers can have full assurance in knowing we can fully trust our Heavenly Father.
Be Encouraged…
Psalms 37:4-6 “Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.”
Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
Matthew 6:25 “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?”
Psalms 28:7 “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.”
Romans 15:13 “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”
Psalms 112:7 “He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.”
Psalms 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Mark 5:36 “As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.”
Psalms 9:10 “And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.”
James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”
John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
Malachi 3:6 “For I am the Lord, I change not.”
Psalms 56:3-4 “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.”
Mark 11:24 “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”
Psalms 13:5 “But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.”
Isaiah 26:3-4 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.”
Psalms 40:4 “Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.”
1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”
Joshua 1:9 “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.”