Trusting in God
by Emily Shank
We all
have times when we wish we had a crystal ball, something which will show us
what our future holds, what the outcomes of certain decisions would be. There
are times in our life when we face changes which seem quiet scary, when we are
worried about things going wrong. There are also many things in life which are
out of our control and make us feel anxious. Yet, the Bible promises us that we
can find rest in trusting God. How can that become a reality though? It’s all
very easy to say, but how do we manage to make it something we experience as an
integral part of our Christian journey?
Uncertainty about our futures
can be unsettling. I struggle when there
seems to be a lot of uncertainty in my life. When my future holds a lot of
unknowns. There are many things to be
concerned and worried about. When I was younger I think I enjoyed new things
and embraced the adventure of change. I wonder what has made me want more
consistency in my life? I think it also has something to do with experiencing
too much change over the last few years. Being in college you meet new people
and possibly change how you present yourself and also change certain ideas
about your future.
Trusting God is a fundamental aspect
of our faith; we trust God to strengthen us during times of change. Trusting
God brings comfort when we are facing situations out of our control which make
us feel under pressure or anxious. Trusting God can bring us security, safety
and rest.
God gives us his wonderful promise. “This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy
One of Israel, says: ‘In repentance and
rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength…’” (Isaiah
30:15).
Look at the words “in quietness and trust is your strength.” There have been times when panic and stress
have been more the emotions that I have felt. So, how do we know rest from
trusting God no matter what life may throw at us?
1. Trusting God comes from knowing him and spending
time with him.
Moses said to the Lord:
“Now therefore, I pray you, if I have found favor in your sight, let me
know your ways that I may know you, so that I may find favor in your sight.
Consider too, that this nation is your people.” And the Lord said, “My presence shall go with you,
and I will give you rest” (Exodus
33:13-14).
Knowing God and knowing his presence with us through
everything we face helps us in trusting him. We cannot know our future; we do
not know what the outcome of the decisions we make in life will be; we will
face change, trials and uncertainty. Through it all, one thing remains constant
– God’s presence going with us. As we
take time to know God and spend time drawing near to his presence, we find it
easier to trust him and find rest.
2. Trusting God comes from understanding
our future and hope in him.
“For I know the plans that I have for you,” declares the
LORD, “plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah
29:11).
We will face hard times in life. There will be pain and difficulty,
suffering and trial. However, God has a plan for us. A plan which gives us a
future and a hope. We have an amazing promise of knowing our loving, wonderful
Father God and above all things we can take joy, comfort and peace from this
amazing, blessed relationship. No matter what we face in life we can be assured
that we will spend eternity with him and that through the cross and
resurrection of Jesus nothing can defeat us.
3. Trusting God comes from seeking God in
His Word, through the counsel of others, and prayer.
God’s Word can provide us with so much comfort, strength and
peace. The more we read it the more we understand who God is, his almighty
sovereignty and his amazing power. He is faithful, full of love and completely
just – our trust in him grows the more we read and understand the wonderful
truths contained in His Word.
The support of other Christians also serves to strengthen us
when we are struggling with the weight of worry and anxiety. We can grow in
strength from their prayers, comfort and words. God’s presence is available to
us through the Christians we have to lean on.
Trusting God, we go to him in prayer. Whatever is worrying us, whatever uncertainty
there is in our life, whatever causes us fear can be given to God in prayer. We
won’t necessarily know answers but we will know peace and rest, having the
knowledge that we can trust in his presence.
Prayer: Dear Lord, please help to come to you with our
daily struggles and to put our doubts and uncertainties to rest. Please help us
trust in you completely by staying close to your Word, coming to you in prayer,
and going to other Christians for guidance. In your name we pray. Amen.
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