Whom do you trust? What do you trust?
For your happiness.
For your joy.
For your peace.
For your life?
There are so many options. But are they all worth it?
Do they deliver what they propose they would?
We have freedom to trust anyone, any authority, any government.
But trusting who has proved the test of time?
Trusting who gives us joy, not for fleeting moments, but sustainable joy, sustainable peace, lifelong freedom?
These are important questions to ponder.
For certain we do not want to trust in something which undermines our freedom and makes us a slave.
Wordly options one can trust?
Some of us do not think much.
Without considering implications, we casually choose to trust in the superficial and eventually end in misery and sorrow.
We find people who trust in money, crypto, stock markets, career growth, academics, beauty, strength, social media followers & likes and comments on posts. Some trust in friends, horses, dogs, security, even bunkers. Many start with half an hour gaming, which soon increases to much of the day, then go beyond weekends to all through the week. Some of these which may give happiness initially can be hidden traps when they become the only focus and aim in life. And when these start to fail, drive people into compulsive behaviours, addictions etc., lead to anxiety, depression and perhaps even suicide and murder.
Then there are others who trust in online games, drugs, sex, pron for excitement and happiness. Tasting drugs and others start as exploratory. Many who go that way become slaves to those habits. After the initial pleasure, many discover that they have become a slave to those behaviours.
Freedom is lost. Joy is lost. Guilt fills the mind. Fear and anxiety rule their lives and even change their looks. (People who want to look good, think others see only what’s seen by normal eyes. But many see beyond what’s seen by natural eyes. )
But fortunately, many with a loving family, a Christ centred church discover a rescue pathway from these traps. The love of Jesus Christ draws many to encounters with godly people, watch testimonies of lives transformed. Because of God’s abundant loving kindness and mercy, many get pulled out from traps. The always tired and drowsy get woken up from delusions before its late.
We have the time and opportunity now to change our engine. Does not what we “trust in” lead us to decisions, choices? Does not what we trust in, make our path? It’s a great privilege to trust the Maker, Creator of heaven and earth. As He knows the very best for a fulfilled life for us, should we not trust in Him and receive His leadings and guidance in a surrendered mode.
People who trusted in God
Father Abraham trusted God. When he was 75 years of age, God asked Abraham to leave his fathers land and go to a far off land. He left Haran in Iraq and went towards the land of Canan. With his wife Sarai and nephew Lot, Abraham travelled.
God gave a great promise to Abraham.
I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing. (Genesis 12:2)
Abraham trusted God in making this great shift from current day Iraq to modern day Israel in spite of the journey being long and tough and his age being 75.
(a) Abraham certainly had a relationship with God, which made him trust God. Neither age or distance stopped him from making this choice to trust God. He made this decision which was far greater than any career change decision, more weightier than any decision to start a new business when he was 75, in obedience to God, because he trusted God.
The promises which came from a faithful God were like “hard cash” and “demand draft” so tangible and true, that Abraham could draw strength from. Read the promise of God mentioned in blue in the paragraph above, five times. Read slowly and gracefully. Read so that you hear and understand it well. Do you feel its strength?
Often in spite of receiving promise from God, the lack of focus on the promise causes trust in the promise to be weak.
(b) If you need to trust in God, have the promise in front of your eyes. Speak it out loud to yourself. Focus and meditate on it every day, ideally multiple times throughout the day.
Abraham saw the faithfulness of God in many ways as he trusted in God. When you trust in God, you are taken on a journey as you trust God for one milestone after another. Many decisions to be taken with God in your life journey.
Abraham trusted God, when God promised him a child, although he and wife were beyond child bearing age.
Abraham trusted God and obeyed Him in willingness to even sacrifice the child God gave him as a promise.
Abraham trusted God for a bride for his son Issac and sent his servant Eliezer from Damascus. Oh how great was this trust. His servant was going and bringing the bride without Issac seeing the girl and giving his consent. Even Abraham had not seen or approved the girl for his son. But he trusted God would lead his servant Eliezer.
Abraham said this to Eliezer “Please, put your hand under my thigh, and I will make you swear[a] by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell; but you shall go to my country and to my family, and take a wife for my son Isaac.” ( Genesis 24:2b-4 NKJV)
Isn’t this amazing? Only after starting to write the above, I could imagine the beauty of Abrahm’s trusting God to lead his servant to choose a bride for his son.
Just imagine what life can be as you start trusting in God and step by step grow into trusting God for leading your family member, friend, colleague, servant…
Every step of his life journey, Abraham trusted God. He experienced the faithfulness of God.
At this stage, I have not grown in trust to even choose a bride for my son. But I have started my journey of trusting in God. I have seen many victories. Expecting to see profound and greater victories. Meanwhile I encourage myself not to lean on my awareness and what I know about situations and circumstances.
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. ( Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV)
( c) Leaning not into our understanding, enables one to trust in God. Why? Because the Kingdom God operates in a superior realm above and beyond the logic and reading of the world.
(d) Acknowledging God in all our ways is important to grow in trusting God. We will then experience God directing our paths.
Noah trusted God
Noah trusted God, when it was not raining. The sky was not cloudy. No appearance of rain was necessary as Noha trusted God. He had a great relationship with God.
(d) When you trust in God, people around you can ridicule you. But if your trust in God is stronger and superior to the world’s understanding, no ridicule will stop you from expressing trust in God.
(e) Is your trust stronger than the disbelief and sin of people around you? Resistance or contrary nature of people around you should not stop you from trusting God. The sin and disbelief of everyone did not affect Noha’s trust in God.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego trusted God
Nebuchadnezzar wanted everyone from all leadership in the country to ordinary people in the kingdom to bow to the golden image he had made. He threatened that people who would not do so would be thrown into a fiery furnace. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knew that they were to bow down only to God.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were polite and firm. They told the King that their God was able to deliver them from the fiery furnace. They said that God was able to deliver them even from the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.
(f) But the beauty of their trust in God was this understanding. They knew with all certainty that even if they were not delivered from the fiery furnace they would not serve the King’s gods.
But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” (Daniel 3:18 NKJV)
The King had his servants heat the furnace 7 times than usual, the people who took Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to the furnace were burned because of the intensity of the fire. But Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were not affected at all. The King saw a 4th person like the Son of God in their midst – all 4 were walking in the fire without their hair being burnt. Smell of fire was not on them.
Then Nebuchadnezzar the King changed his mind. He said. Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God!
Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this.” (Daniel 3:28,29)
Anna and Simeon trusted in God
Anna was 84 years old. She was in the temple when Joseph and Mary brought baby Jesus to the temple. She prayed and fasted for many years and she did not go away from the temple as she trusted in God to show the Messiah as the Holy Spirit had conveyed to her. And when she saw baby Jesus, she knew what she had hoped for all these years, she saw with the Messiah.
Similarly, Simeon knew from the Holy Spirit that he would see Jeus before he died. He trusted the faithfulness of God. And the timing was perfect, the day Mary and Joseph brought baby Jesus, He was in the temple and He saw baby Jesus. He was filled with joy to see, carry Jesus and said For my eyes have seen Your salvation
Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel.”(Luke 2:30-32)
So many more rich and resplendent instances can be read in the Bible. Many of these are left out for you to study and discover for yourselves.
Many other great testimonies of people around us in our church, family, city, other cities and countries can be heard, read and watched if you desire to grow in trusting God. Ask God. He will certainly give us more than what we ever desire. God is faithful beyond every reason. Trust Him now and today.
Jesus, as son of man, could because of his nurtured relationship with his Father God trusted Him. He surrendered to be sacrificed on the cross for all of us. He trusted God to resurrect Him after 3 days and nights.
So very awesome are these great testimonies of trusting God.
Taste and see for yourself, that the Lord is good.(based on verse Psalm 34:8)
Trust God in your situations and circumstances. Have a relationship with Him. Speak to Him and seek to hear from Him.
Remember, God has even the King’s heart in His hands. God can direct the King’s heart in any direction. (based on verse Proverbs 21:1) God will give you favour from whom it is required, even from the King.
God will defend you and guide you.
As we trust in God, He defends those who trust in Him.
All who love the name of the Lord be joyful in God. (Psalm 5:11)
God bless you richly.
