Simply Trusting
If given the following two options, what type of person would you say you are?
You automatically trust people until they give you a reason not to
People have to earn your trust
I would typically say I’m the former. I also desire that others trust me until I give them a reason not to.
Yet, despite my typical answer, my heart has been struggling with fully trusting Jesus lately. He’s never given me a reason not to trust Him, and I can give you several examples of times in my life that he’s been faithful and true to everything He promised in His word.
Oh, I can wholeheartedly give lip service to it. Just a week ago I fervently led our congregation in singing:
“I trust in God, my Savior
The one who will never fail
He will never fail”
©Essential Music Publishing, Integrity Music
This past Sunday I lifted my voice in corporate worship proclaiming
“‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus
Just to take Him at His word.”
©Public Domain
Yet, Monday has arrived and now in situations where I absolutely cannot control the outcome for myself or those I love, my trust waivers.
Instead of remembering all the ways that God has, without fail, cared for, protected, led, provided, healed, redeemed or rescued me I find myself settling in to worry, fret and doubt.
Why is that?
I’m not a person who typically has trust issues. As I think of the closest relationships in my life~ my husband, our children, our best friends~ I would trust them with my life. I wouldn’t hesitate for a moment to believe they had my best interests in mind. I have spent so much time with them I know their character. They also know mine. They know what ‘makes me tick’. They know my strengths and faults. I can pour the depths of my heart out to them and know that I’m still loved.
So, how do I become the type of person like Daniel who when surrounded by lions was protected “...because he had trusted in His God.” ? (Daniel 6:23b NIV)
A person like the Apostle Paul who so thoroughly trusted Jesus he said, “for me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Phil. 1:21 NIV)
Someone like my Dad who walked through seven years of a terminal cancer diagnosis, full of joy and without worry, because He trusted every moment of his life to Jesus’ care.
A person like countless other friends that have walked through unbelievable trials that have cut them to their core, yet they continue to proclaim that God is a loving and sovereign God, and can tell of His mercy and providence in their various situations.
Why is it that even when I look back at my own life and see specific situations that have His fingerprints alone on the outcome I still live in a state of anxiety and worry?
As I’ve been reflecting on this the past several weeks, I realize that each of these people had relationships that were so close to Jesus that they couldn’t help but trust Him! They spent time with Him on a regular basis. They knew the ins and outs of His character because they knew Him intimately. They recounted His wonderful works and proclaimed His praise! They continually rehearsed and remembered His acts of mercy, guidance, redemption, healing and provision in their lives. They poured out their hearts to Him as they trusted His goodness and unchanging nature.
So it’s time to do some honest reflection and ask myself, “Am I working on building my relationship with Jesus every day so that there is such a closeness I can’t help but trust Him implicitly?’ Am I learning more and more about His unchanging character? Am I pouring my heart out to Him or am I trying to solve issues on my own? Am I recounting the ways He’s worked in my life through my words of thanksgiving and praise?
I don’t want to live in a state of worry or doubt. So I’ll continue to step out and faith and proclaim that I’m
“Simply trusting every day…
Trusting though my faith is small,
Trusting Jesus that is all.”
©Public Domain
