What do You Trust?

^“And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!” Mark 10:24

“Please! Let us out!” I screamed as I banged on the door of the pitch-black restroom. I had taken a brief potty break from shopping with my two kids. As we were washing our hands, the lights went out. It was a Sunday. I forgot the time and the store’s shorter hours. “Rachel, hold on to the stroller,” I said. Then I slid my hip along the counter and pushed the stroller as I felt my way to the door. I pushed. The door didn’t budge. I shoved my shoulder hard against the door. Nothing happened. That’s when I began beating on the door. Soon, I felt the door pushing against me as a salesman opened the door.

I felt ridiculous. It never dawned on me to try pulling the door. I never wondered why they would lock the restrooms at closing time. But these were not the worst of my failures.

 In that moment, I failed to trust the Lord. I was relying on myself to get the sales associate who was locking up. If I had prayed, I’m confident His Spirit would have whispered, “Pull.” Instead of showing my children how to trust God, I displayed desperate fear and a lack of self-control.

Elizabeth Elliot in a message from Mark 4 (Jesus stilling the wind and the waves) said, “How often do we think we’re perishing when we’re really panicking?” At least when the storm started howling, the disciples went to Jesus; that day, I forgot Jesus was with me.

Thirty-five years later, that vivid memory reminds me to trust God in every situation.  Michael Card wrote, “To trust in a way that I cannot see. That's what faith must be.”

Jesus is the ever-present, unseen Waymaker. It’s easy to say I believe Jesus is my Savior. But relying on Him to deliver me daily in all circumstances is a whole different matter. Praying first, then waiting for Him to provide, is evidence that we are truly relying on Him. The King of Kings invites us to live in His abundance. How sad He must feel to watch us struggle in the poverty of our minuscule resources when He offers us unlimited access to all He is and owns. Self-reliance robs us of Heaven’s riches. Let’s start every day with prayer and develop the habit of entrusting all our cares to Him.

Question for Reflection:

1. When you need help, what do you do first, or who do you go to first?

2. How has a time of failing to trust Jesus helped remind you to trust Him more?