Our journey in trust
Day 32
by Gini Crawford, MSW
Got trust
Trust is very important in any relationship, isn't it? Think of someone you can't trust – in all probability that relationship will be very frustrating, maybe even hurtful or harmful. A person that is untrustworthy is certainly a person you hope you don't have to depend on, much less obey. I know some of you have had some very unsettling things happen in relationships, so you naturally tend to not trust. Now think of someone you trust or you know is faithful. You will be more likely to depend on that person because you have confidence in that person. I am sure you understand.
God is trustworthy. I guarantee if you will give God a chance and get to know Him like you know your best friend or husband, then you will be able to have faith in God – to have trust in Him. God isn't like humans who will let you down sooner or later.
God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? Numbers 23:19 ESV®
You are probably thinking, what does trust involve? To put it simply, faith or belief leads to trust, and trust boils down to who or what you choose to rely on, depend upon, or have confidence in. When we believe in Jesus Christ, we trust Him to forgive our sins, giving us eternal life. From then on, God's presence is within us, giving us a wonderful and intimate life with Him, where trusting and loving Him should be our aim. (Jeremiah 17:5-8; Mark 12:30).
A great adventure from trusting God
Abraham is our great example of trust in both the Old and New Testaments, so it is a must we talk about him. This humorous but true biography of Abraham covers Genesis chapters eleven through twenty-two. Abraham lived in the grandest city of his time, Ur. Ur was in the land we now call Iraq. Things were going as well as possible for him in Ur. Then God called to Abraham and told him to pack the family wagon and move to this wild country called Canaan. This country had some pretty unruly people in it. These people, I would dare say, used outhouses, not indoor plumbing like Abraham was accustomed to. If that wasn't bad enough, they did some pretty monstrous things. Abraham didn't whine to God and ask, "Why that awful place?" Instead, he obeyed God, demonstrating his trust in God, and he packed up and moved his clan.
As the years went on, Abraham got to know God better and better. This led him to trust in Him more. God and Abraham became buddies, so much so, that God's Word calls him the friend of God. When God told him that he would have a son by his beloved wife, Sarah, he believed God. Even after her childbearing years were over, Abraham still believed and waited for God's promise to come about. Now, Abraham wasn't perfect. His trust in God did have its flaky moments. But all in all, Abraham kept his confidence in God who had promised to give him that wild country for his descendants, and to give him a son through whom his descendants would come.
God's promise of a son finally came true when Abraham was 100 years old. Abraham loved the boy very much. Then God asked Abraham again to trust in Him. Wow, what a test of his trust this trial would be! God asked him to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac. Abraham's trust in God was so very strong by then, he said, "OK Lord." Abraham packed up what he would need for a sacrifice, along with his son. Both of them immediately left their home to obey God. You see, Abraham knew God was a loving God, and would only ask him to do what was best for him and his son. And God did. He provided a ram which was a substitute sacrifice in the place of Isaac. The place God told Abraham to sacrifice his son was in the land of Moriah. Many centuries later in this same land, God's Son was sacrificed for Abraham, Isaac, and all of us (Genesis 15:6, 22:1-17; 2 Chronicles 3:1; Romans 4:3-8; Galatians 3:6-9; Hebrews 11:8-19).
We need to be like Abraham and trust God enough, so when He says something, we do it. Bear in mind, Abraham's trust in God was shown through His obedience of God. Obeying God is simply following His Word. Do you trust in God enough to obey Him like Abraham did?
Life Application
The hope and benefit of trusting in God
When we trust in God it gives us great benefit for now and forever. You can't beat that for long term investing, can you? I have noticed, when my main focus is Jesus instead of the pull of this world, I seem to want what He wants, so I trust Him more and yes obey Him. On the flip side, when I don't trust God, I end up trusting in something that looks and feels right at that moment, but in reality falls short of what I really need. When we trust God the result is always productive and good. Why should you trust in God from these passages? Read Psalm 37:3-6; Proverbs 3:5-6; Jeremiah 17:5-8.
The Psalms are full of King David’s heart felt desire to trust God. David realized that God delighted in our trust and would bless immensely through it. Read Psalm 20:6-8; 40:1-4, 52:8, 56:3-4,8-13. If you are struggling with trusting God, ask His Spirit that dwells in you to create a desire in you to trust. David did because he knew a relationship with God needed to be cultivated by trust.
Hope that has its foundation in Jesus, is a true hope that looks to the future, knowing you will gain eternal life and the promises of God before actually receiving them. Hope found in Jesus is something you can have trust or confidence in because it is certain - it saves and empowers. No matter how tough your days may be, in Jesus you can always have good hope for the present and the future. (Romans 15:13; 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17; Titus 2:12-14). Let us live by trusting Jesus, and rejoice in the hope and grace He has given to us. Knowing that what comes our way, His love through His Spirit is there with hope that doesn’t disappoint. Read Romans 5:1-5.
A couple was out canoeing in a lake with no life vests, and they tipped over. Neither of them could swim so they were terrified and kind of went crazy. They weren’t even hanging onto the floating canoe. The lifeguard (who was my teacher) was their only hope of survival. He swam out to them with two life preservers. The woman trusted in the lifeguard and listened to him and grabbed the help he brought, the life preserver. The man on the other hand, didn’t trust in his only hope and was fighting the lifeguard even to the point of hitting and drowning him. The lifeguard had to knock him out to save his life. Jesus is our lifeguard. He brings us saving hope. Will you trust Him and grab His hope, or fight Him when He is trying to save you?
Reflect on Proverbs 3:5-6.