I read something the other day that made me pause. I had given some thought to the idea several times before over the years. But something that day caused it to hit me differently. Let’s talk this out and pick it apart together.
I’ve made the following statement many times: “I trust God.” Most who know me would probably not question if I said this. But what am I trusting him with? What do I trust him for?
First and foremost, I’m guessing the thing that comes to mind that we trust God with is our salvation. We trust that Jesus is the only way we’re getting in heaven. We believe that he descended to earth and took on human form, died on a cross to pay the ransom we could never pay, and then rose from the grave to conquer death and give us eternal life. Many of us have believed that for years. So here’s the real question: What is it that I DON’T trust him with? What am I NOT trusting him for?
A recent list from my own life looks something like this: God, where is the money going to come from? Or, why are you allowing “Nancy” to get by with this when you know I’ve worked so hard? It might even sound like me complaining about my husband. Whatever the case may be, there’s some pretty deep irony if you ask me. How much sense does it make that I trust God and ultimately Jesus for my entrance into heaven, but I can’t trust him to provide the money, take care of “Nancy” (or me, I suppose), or knock some sense into my husband (please, no mean comments, I’m just trying to make a point).
But we all do this every day to some degree. We might actually take a step of faith (trusting that God will keep his promises). And then the next thing we do is worry. Seriously! I just did that very thing in the past week.
This picture is from one of several family vacations to Lake Norris over the years. This bridge came to represent a kind of right of passage. Did Mallory or Cash or any of those kids trust the words of their fathers when he said, “I promise. It’s safe. Trust me. I’ll be right here watching”? Absolutely they did. Maybe not immediately. They might have waited for Gabe (of course he’s the one jumping the highest and is now in the Air Force Special Recon) just to make sure. But they all eventually climbed that path, teetered on the edge, counted to three, and jumped.
I don’t just want Jesus to be my Savior (although that’s definitely amazing). I want him to be my LORD. That means I have to trust. I have to trust that if he’s calling me to write or speak, he’s going to provide what I need to do that for him. I have to trust that he sees me working hard and always being honest and that he’s gonna take care of “Nancy” for me. And I even need to trust him with Kenny; after all, he’s the husband I trusted him for.
I want to write and speak for years to come of my great, big trustworthy God. I hope you’ll keep coming back to join me on this journey.
Proverbs 3:5-6 ~ Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.