Friends
How are your trust muscles? Perhaps it’s time to work on a strengthening plan.
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In you, Lord my God, I put my trust. I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me.
Psalm 25:1-2 – NIV
I love to teach, and I love being taught. I recently had the pleasure of attending an online writer’s conference sponsored by Proverbs 31 Ministries. The slate of sessions was chock full of excellent speakers and helpful advice. That’s why I had an eager sense of anticipation as I waited for the speaker to begin the session.
From her opening remarks, I was captivated, enjoying her forthright manner and witty sense of humor. Still, when she blurted out, “I have trust issues,” I was a bit taken aback, wondering where this was going. When she launched into a humorous tale of how she won’t move from the fast food line until she has checked that every burger and French fry is safely tucked in her bag, I cracked up. I could relate to that after all. We’ve all had an experience or two that makes us mistrust the contents of our drive through orders. When she went on to say that she knows she has trust issues because she even does her relentless confirmation with her Chic-fila orders even though she knows it’s Christian chicken, well, she had me in stitches.
But then her examples took on a more serious note delving into the spiritual realm. I didn’t want them to, but her examples hit home. With a prickly sense of discomfort, I heard her say, “If I don’t have trust issues, then why do I worry?”
Ouch! The dart of her question flew through the air hitting its target squarely in the bullseye. With a growing sense of dread, I had to ask myself, “Do I have trust issues too?”
I wanted to reply, “Certainly not!” But the more I considered the subject, the more I recognized myself in her forthright examples.
After all, if I don’t have trust issues, then why do I worry? If I really trusted God with all of my heart, then I wouldn’t fret. I wouldn’t wonder how we will traverse the rough waters that lay across our path. I wouldn’t feel the need to ask again, to double check, to follow up just that one more time.
If I trusted God wholly and completely, then I would shrug at the dark clouds ahead. I would greet the day with an assured smile that didn’t falter. I might have my problems, but instead of hanging onto them or fretting over them, I would lay them at the feet of Jesus and trust Him to work it out.
But I don’t always do that. Sometimes I smile at the sunrise. Sometimes I lift my hands in prayer, releasing the problem to God. Most of the time, my faith is rock solid, a strong fortress against the enemy’s onslaught.
But not always.
Far too often, I falter. Far too often, I fail. I fret. I worry. I try to control everything and everyone around me. I want it to be different, but I keep on doing the same old things. I keep on living the same old way.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5). I want to trust, but I also want to understand. I want to know “Why?” I want to know the game plan, to anticipate the next move. I want to be in control, and God tells me quite plainly, “No!”
It’s not for me to solve. It’s not for me to understand. I don’t get to know the plan. I just get to follow. I get to go where He leads me. I get to do what He has called me to do. I get to fulfill His purposes, and that needs to be enough.
He promised that He would never leave me nor forsake me (Hebrews 13:5). He promised that He would go with me wherever I go (Joshua 1:9). He promised that He would work all things together for my good (Romans 8:28).
But God never promised that there would be no trouble, no heartache, no loss. He never told me that I would understand why. He didn’t put me in charge. No, He alone is in control. He alone is sovereign over all things.
In all my self-centered ways, I so easily forget about His faithfulness. I forget how He made a way again and again when there seemed to be no way. I forget His goodness. I fear the future. Why? Why do I so easily fail to follow? Why do I so often lose my way? Why, when I love The Lord so much, do I wander away?
I think the answer is surrender. Because I fail to surrender my will to God’s will, then I can’t seem to trust Him fully. I have to let go of my concerns, and let God work them out.
It’s time to stop the struggle for control, time to expose the lies, time to recognize the attacks of the enemy. Here’s the truth. I am not in control. I am not supposed to be. God is sovereign, and He is faithful. He cares about every issue, no matter how great or small. He is worthy of my trust. His will may be hard to understand sometimes, but His plans are perfect, and they will work out for good in due time.
My job is not to run the show. It’s to surrender my will and all of my concerns to a perfect God who loves me with an everlasting love. I can trust that truth. I can trust God with anything and everything.
So what about you? Do you have trust issues too? Will you keep on hanging onto the things you were never meant to control, or will you open your hands in faith and let them go to God?
He is more than worthy of our trust.
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Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.
Hebrews 10:23 – NLT
PRAYER
O Dear Lord, forgive us when we fail to trust. Far too often, we fret and worry instead of laying our concerns at Your feet. Instead of following where You lead us, we wander away on our own path. We fail You again and again. Forgive us Lord. Strengthen us to stand firm in our faith, to trust You in everything. Let us love You more than anything.
In the Merciful Name of Jesus, we pray,
Amen
Blessings,
Anita
Faith Beyond Sight 
⤠Thank you!
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