Trust?

And they that know thy name 

will put their trust in thee: 

for thou, Lord, 

hast not forsaken them that seek thee. 

Psalm 9:10

On my last coaching call Friday, my coach asked me a spontaneous question: "What have you been learning spiritually in the last couple months?" In theory, it wasn't that difficult of a question. However, I had to gather up everything from the past few months into one concise idea, and my answer came out something like this: "This may sound somewhat cliche, but I have been really learning to trust God." My coach reminded me that it was not cliche, because--no matter who we are or what our life is like--we all struggle to trust God at some time in our life. 

I don't think the difficulty lies in actually trusting God to work out our circumstances, but rather, our finite minds cannot comprehend how or why He will do what He says. God is so much bigger than we are, and just placing all we have into the hands of One is daunting. We'd rather control what happens, why it happens, and how it happens, but we can't do that if we leave it all with God. Giving everything to Him means that we stop trying to change and work things out in our own timing, but instead, surrendering it completely to Him. It's putting it down at the foot of the cross...and leaving it there, not picking it up again to ponder over the "why?" of it all. 

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defined trust as " assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something". To have confidence in the character, ability, strength, and truth of God. 

God's character...

"God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?" (Numbers 23:19)

"...Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee." (Jeremiah 31:1)  

"Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it." (1 Thessalonians 5:24)

God's ability...

"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us, 

Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." (Ephesians 3:20-21)

"For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death." (Psalm 48:14)

"And he changeth the times and seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding." (Daniel 2:21

God's strength...

"Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; ;and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?" (Jeremiah 23:29)

"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation." (Isaiah 12:2)

"And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him." (Psalm 37:40)

God's truth...

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)

"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:32)

"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth:" (John 16:13)

Can we have confidence in the character, ability, strength, and truth of God? Absolutely. He will be glorified in our weakness as we rely on His power. So trust Him. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and learn not unto thine own understanding. It all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6) It's easier said than done in most cases, but it's a command. 

...when you have no answers; trust in the Lord. 

...when you're emotionally and mentally worn out; trust in the Lord. 

...when your future is uncertain; trust in the Lord. 

...when you cannot see the beginning or end; trust in the Lord. 

...when He rewards you with unexpected blessings; trust in the Lord. 

...when relationships fail; trust in the Lord. 

...when God answers unspoken requests in unimaginable ways; trust in the Lord. 

...when going through deep valleys; trust in the Lord. 

...when the mountaintop is reached; trust in the Lord. 

And He will direct your paths.  He cannot lie. He is faithful and will do as He has promised. 

"Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength." (Isaiah 26:4)

In Him,

Kaleigh