Trust God 

During my morning quiet time, I sit silently and meditate on a range of ideas about God. The ideas seem to float across my mind's eye. I tried to focus on the issue of trust but could not. How do we trust God? In the silence, I continued to pray. And God revealed His thoughts in such a remarkable way, bringing to my small mind several real-life examples.

As I leaned into the Word, this Scripture about trust spoke clearly: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths", Proverbs 3:5-6, (YouVersion, NKJV). I thought surely this Scripture describes the way to trust God. And, then Holy Spirit gently asked me to compare Bible translations. I compared several, and I read again Proverbs 3:5-6, (YouVersion, NIV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight."

Immediately, I felt the spiritual difference, and the following traffic light example popped into my thoughts. The Holy Spirit said you can acknowledge a red light, but still drive through the red light and suffer negative and possibly even fatal consequences. Or you can submit to the red light, stop completely, and then proceed safely when the light turns green. Big difference, and I get it now. I want God to make my paths straight, how about you?

And God reminded me of this event. A few days ago, a former colleague and her husband received a devastating phone call. On their way home from a Friday night dinner date, a frantic caller quickly revealed devastating news, "Your house is on fire, totally in flames!" Upon arriving home, they saw multiple fire companies battling the intense inferno that consumed their house, its contents, garage, detached shop, and even one of their vehicles. Life forever changed in less time than a casual dinner date. Trust God?

God also highlighted a recent vehicle crash in my small coastal town. A pastor, while driving the family vehicle accompanied by his wife and three children, made a turn at a green light onto a main road, heading home. An erratic young driver, fleeing from police in a high-speed chase, ran a red light and t-boned the pastor's vehicle. Both vehicles eventually stopped some distance from impact. Rescue crews transported the injured to the hospital. Several days later, pastor, his children, and the young male driver, were released, while the pastor's wife remained hospitalized. Sadly, the pastor's wife did not recover from her injuries. She passed away just six days after the vehicle crash. Trust God?

As I reflected on these two tragedies, the Holy Spirit prompted me again with this Scripture: Matthew 5:45 (NKJV), "that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." Both the pastor's family and the fire victims are true believers, people of great faith, but they now ask "Why did these things happen?" Trust God.

And then, Holy Spirit brought other examples to mind - the miracles of precious babies born healthy and loved to young mamas. Yes, born into this world, not aborted. These stories of mamas who chose life continue to bless us time and again at the pregnancy center where I volunteer. Amazingly, God leads abortion-minded pregnant women, in His love and endless grace, to the pregnancy center. They arrive full of fear, uncertainty, and shame. Often angry or sobbing in tears, they ask us questions. And in the waiting, they find an outpouring of God's love, emotional support, hope, and even salvation, at our center. We see lives changed, fathers transformed, mothers empowered and radiant, and babies born healthy and loved. Trust God.

Indeed, as the Psalmist David declared in Psalm 139:13-14 (NKJV), "For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well." And indeed, we pray and trust God and praise His miraculous love and tenderness for each baby, mama, and daddy.

Then, as quickly as God showed me these events, He reminded me of His Precious Only Son, Jesus, who died on the cross for all of our sins, who rose from the grave and conquered death, who goes before us to heaven to prepare an eternal home for us there! John 14:1-4 (YouVersion, NKJV), "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In my Father's house are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know." He has an eternal plan for each of us. Trust God.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible holds more than 100 Scripture citations for Trust. Clearly, God intends His message about trust to penetrate our hearts. As believers, we must trust God, hold tightly onto our faith, pray without ceasing, remain humble, and obedient to God, our Abba Father. The ancients summed up our position of trust very well in Exodus 14:14 (NKJV), "The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace." Trust God.

Maybe you are wondering about the couple who lost everything in the fire. The couple, although devastated by the fire, shared their testimony on social media and declared that they are alive and well, daily giving praise to God. They posted pictures of a family Bible that did not burn, and also of precious Scripture quotes, hand-written on wood beams during the original construction of the house. As if God refined the property Himself, those items did not burn in the fire. Even now, as I write this message, the community works alongside my colleague's family with financial support, hope and love. As Isaiah 61:3-4 reminds us, "and provide for those who grieve in Zion - to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise, instead of a spirit of despair", (YouVersion, NIV). There will soon be beauty from ashes. Their lot has been cleared of debris and ashes, and new construction begins soon.

As for the pastor, surrounded by a loving church family and embraced by ongoing community support, he has recovered and returned to his church. He now speaks with an even greater voice of love, compassion, and profound forgiveness toward the errant driver. And, while I do not know about the young man or his legal difficulties, perhaps God also met him in a powerful way through this encounter. We continue to pray for these people. Trust God.

"When I am afraid, I put my trust in You. In God, Whose Word I praise - in God I trust and am not afraid", (YouVersion, NIV).

Questions for Reflection:

1. How do you demonstrate your trust in God? With your children and family members? With your coworkers? Or your neighbors? And your community?

2. In what ways can we as believers learn to trust God?

Let's pray:

Dear God,

Help us to put our trust completely in You. You alone are the most High God, Abba Father. Help us to come to You like little children running to their loving Father. Help us to put aside our rebellious and prideful ways. Help us to see You more clearly and to see the love You have for each of us. We can never thank You and praise You enough for Your mercy, love, and grace, and for sending Your Perfect Son, Jesus. Help us to keep our eyes on You and to point others to You through our lives and testimony, regardless of our circumstances. In the precious name of Jesus, Amen.