Not afraid to trust Him

Last night I attended a concert by a Southern Gospel group that I like, the Whisnants. I have been to many Southern Gospel concerts in my life, but have not been to many that encouraged me as much as this one did. I have been entertained at many, but the focus of this group seems to be more ministry than entertainment. And there was a theme woven throughout the concert of trusting God. There were several songs that talked about trusting God or had the idea of trusting God.

  That has become my most recent battlefield. For most of my life, it was believing God loves me. That sadly took all my life up to two years ago, and though a random doubt may creep in occasionally, I have managed to hold onto the belief that God does indeed love me in spite of all of my screw-ups and in spite of the way I view myself or feel others view me.

  But trusting Him.... I haven't arrived there yet. As one of the singers said last night, it is easy to trust God when everything is going well. It is different when things are not going well. When the bills are piling higher than what is in the bank, when health issues are hitting us hard, when facing the death of a loved one, when we are unemployed, when it seems the bottom has fallen out of our world. Trusting God isn't as easy when life is tough.

  Most of us tend to think we know what is best for ourselves. That man or woman is the right spouse, and we are devastated if it doesn't work out. That job is the one we want and when God doesn't drop it in our lap, we question Him. Instead of living next door, the kids take your grandchildren and move several states away..... or to another country to be missionaries.

  I am at an impasse right now. It is past time for me to get my own place, but to put it bluntly.... I am scared. The last time I lived totally by myself, I didn't make enough money and got in over my head with credit cards. I fear that happening again. I fear I will get out on my own and the hospital won't renew the contract with the company I work for and I will be out of work. I fear being out of work and not being able to find another job. My fears and lack of skills pile up and bury me, leaving no room to trust God. I waver, not being able to find the line of doubting my own abilities and doubting that God can help me in spite of my lack of abilities and skills.

  I love spring and summer. I enjoy driving with the windows down being rather carefree as I cruise along. I keep my eye out for the other guy, but trust my car and my driving. I am a good driver and have no reason to fear. Winter is a different matter. As I have gotten older, I worry more about driving on bad roads. I don't drive carefree on snow covered or icy roads. I creep along with both hands on the wheel. It is the same car and I am the same driver, but the road conditions cause fear and worry, and a lack of trust in my driving and in the car.

  I do that with God. The same God who is there when everything is going well, is the the God who is there when nothing is going right and life doesn't make sense. As one song says, "the God of the mountain is still God in the valley, the God of the good times is still God in the bad times. The God of the day is till God in the night."

  God always knows best. He doesn't always act in ways that we think He should, and at times it may seem like He isn't listening or coming through at all. That is when the rubber meets the road. That is when we truly have to trust God. It really isn't trust if we never have to exercise that trust. It really isn't faith if we never have to use it. And it isn't a question of if storms will come, but when. It isn't a question of if we will have to fight to trust God. It will happen.

  The disciples were fishing and Jesus was sleeping the bottom of the boat. Everything was fine, everyone was having fun until a storm came up. The disciples panicked, woke Jesus up and asked "don't you care if we die?" It is so easy to criticize people in the Bible in instances like that. They had seen Jesus perform miracles, yet they doubted in the storm. Anyone who has been a Christian for very long has done the same. God has come through for us. He has answered prayer, made a way when it seemed there wasn't a way. But then tough times come. The storm hits and we are tossed on the sea of life. We pray and it seems God is just not there and not caring. Yet He knows everything and sees all that is going on. He has His own timing and His own reasons for letting us go through the storm and valley. He will come through and answer prayer. It just may not be when we want it, when we think we need it, or how we think it should happen. He is worthy of our trust more than anyone else.

  One of the songs that was sung last night is titled "I'm not afraid to trust Him." May that be the cry of every Christian's heart.

NOT AFRAID TO TRUST HIM
Sandy Blythe

Outside the sea is troubled, and the night has been so long
Out on the open water, I'm praying for the dawn
But I don't have to worry through the storm of doubt and fear
For the One who rules the tempest is standing at the wheel. 

I'm not afraid to trust Him 
As I face the raging sea. 
I don't know what lies ahead, 
But I know the One Who stands by me. 
I don't know about tomorrow, 
But I know Who holds my hand. 
I've placed my faith in Him. 
I'm not afraid to trust Him.

You know, this is not the first storm that He's brought me safely through
And I'm holding to His promise that I'll come through this one too
This storm won't last forever, for I will see the sun again
No, I'm not going under; I'm sailing with the Great I Am. 

I'm not afraid to trust Him 
As I face the raging sea. 
I don't know what lies ahead, 
But I know the One Who stands by me. 
I don't know about tomorrow, 
But I know Who holds my hand. 
I've placed my faith in Him. 
I'm not afraid to trust Him.