Anytime trust is required there is a part of you that has to concede or give over in order that the “trust” works. The Christian has come to a place where trust in God is a spiritual and sometimes a physical reality. We have learned trust in God by His own hand showing up from time to time in our lives. Trust has been gained towards God by His faithfulness in the past and by His promises for the future. It has been said that, “ Faith is confidence in the trustworthiness of God”. This is such a true statement. The bible tells that God cannot lie. (Hebrews 6: 18,19) and that He keeps the promises He makes. It is here that we often find ourselves, not doubting, but lacking confidence in our own faith. It is not God we doubt, but our own ability to trust. This is where our faith can be beat up and shaken. Fortunately, God has provided for us on this front as well. He has given us three powerful tools to help us trust Him when it is hard. First, he has given us prayer. Prayer is a way for the believer to talk things out with God. He may not answer right away He may be silent for a while so that He can see how important the issue is to you by your commitment to pray for it. Sometimes through circumstance or people the answer from God may show up and strengthen our faith allowing us to trust Him more. That leads us to the second tool that we have at our disposal. The Scripture, the very Word of God. This tool is perhaps the most under utilized tool because sometimes we get intimidated by it. Why? Simply because “His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts higher than our thoughts.” (Isaiah 55) But don’t be intimidated by the Word. This is where we can find confidence in Him. His Word is there that we might know Him better. The third tool that we have is often overlooked and not used. This tool is the people of God, the Church. This tool is overlooked because we sometimes forget that the church is a people and not a place. But it can be a source contention if we aren’t willing to trust them. I know that you are going to say that they are people and not perfect like God or His Word, but here me out. God’s people are just that His people. They have been where we are and have walked that mile, they know all about the journey. God is in the business of redeeming that which was lost. The people of God may not be perfect but the Churches of God are here so that we can lean on one another and learn to trust when it is hard.
With these tools at out finger tips and the power of the Holy Spirit that indwells every believer we are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus our hope in Glory!
Rom 8:35-39 KJV 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
2Ti 1:12 KJV For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
May God bless you as you learn to “trust Him” when times are hard.
Pastor Dana Williams
