Faith Part 4 – Trusting GOD
Why is it so hard for so many of us to trust other people? I’ve noticed this idea before in the simple act of holding a door open for the person behind me. Almost every time I do, that person feels it necessary to place their hands on the door presumably just in case I am too weak to hold it open for them (and I do this to others). I remember another time in Seminary when there were about 5 people waiting outside of a locked door before class started when, one after the other, at least 25 people proceeded to check the door just in case the other 30 people were wrong. And especially when you’re waiting for an elevator-this might be the worst of all. People come up and push the same button that you have pushed (even though they can see the light) just in case you didn’t push the up arrow in the correct way.
These are all kind of silly examples of us not trusting other people, but there is a deep distrust in our world today of other people, and with good reason. We can’t let our kids play outside without worrying about them or help someone with a flat tire without expecting to be taken advantage of. With law suits and evil and all other kind of things in our world, we have learned to trust very few people (and sometimes not even them).
If we are not careful, this distrust can easily carry over into our relationship with Jesus. When is the last time you truly trusted in GOD for something? When is the last time you knew GOD was calling you to something and through that call you had 100% trust in GOD to accomplish His will? Because I am starting to realize that there is no such thing as faith without trust. Anything or anyone who we truly place our faith in is something or someone that we truly trust as well, and without trust faith is completely and utterly empty and non-existent.
Why am I talking about trust as a component of faith? Why would I take up a whole blog post to discuss what it means to trust in GOD? I am writing this because of how difficult it is. Have you ever given someone a task with absolutely no trust that that person would accomplish what he/she was supposed to? I have a few times, and every time that happens, I have some type of backup plan. I either accomplish the task for them and have my work ready just in case, or I tell them to have it completed hours, days, or weeks before I really need it…And here is what I am afraid of…How many times do I do this with GOD? How many times do I say that I trust GOD to help me through something and then proceed to work overtime without ever thinking or praying again just in case GOD doesn’t come through? And how many nights do I spend worrying and in fear that the things I am doing are not going to work because “I” am not smart enough or “I” don’t know how to do it or “I” am overwhelmed?
Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.”
One of the things that I want to do is learn how to truly trust GOD! I think about the people that I do truly trust. My family, my friends, and especially, without any hesitation, my wife. And no offense to any of them, but they, like me, are imperfect, evil sinners who will never be able to accomplish anything apart from GOD. So why do I find it easier, at times, to trust them than I do GOD? Well, honestly because I’m just not smart enough…
I cannot see GOD (even though everyday I wake up in His creation). I cannot comprehend GOD (even though this inability to comprehend Him should give me even greater trust in Him). I cannot physically touch GOD (even though His beauty and majesty would be too great for me to be near anyway). I am not like GOD (His eternal qualities are too much for me to grasp). AND IT IS FOR ALL OF THESE REASONS THAT I SHOULD TRUST HIM!
As we move forward with this ministry, it is really easy for us to do things on our own. It is really easy for us to set out a formula or an idea and to follow it no matter what. It is really easy for us to ask others for wisdom and to take human wisdom at every turn. But I want to TRUST in GOD. I want to trust that He will take care of me. I want to trust that He knows what is best for me and that when He calls me to something, I want to trust that He knows what He is doing.
I trust that GOD knows how to start and run an orphanage much better than I do.
GOD, please help me to live my life like I believe that line. And anybody who is reading this, write that line about the things that are going on in your life. Trust that GOD knows how to do it better than you do, and then live your life like you truly trust Him. I am going to try this every day of my life!