God's been bringing me back to this truth repeatedly lately. That I need to choose to put my trust in God unconditionally. No matter what happens, even if things do not turn out at all as I'd like them, when I trust Him, I can move forward in life with peace, joy and gratitude.As I've mentioned, I've been studying in Esther. I am inspired by Esther's words recorded in Esther 4:16 (NIV):
"Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish."
As I read this I see a woman trusting in the God she can't see. She's choosing to do what she believes God wants, even though it will most likely mean she will die. It was against the law to come before the King without being summoned and the penalty was death; the only way there could be a reprieve was if the King chose to extend his scepter toward the person who'd come before him without being summoned. Esther's choice to trust God and do what she believed to be right, regardless of consequences, encourages me to do the same.
I found this comment of Beth Moore's
interesting"Ironically, a person is never less aware of divine intervention than when he or she has been chosen to render it. Sometimes God's hand is so close that it covers the eyes."
This seems true to me; sometimes in the midst of things, it's too difficult to see clearly what is really going on. Sometimes God is using me, or protecting me, but I am not even aware until I look back later on the situation.
I've noticed that it's as if once I have settled in my heart and mind that I will do what I believe is right and stop trying to manipulate the outcomes, I'm then free to go ahead and live without being so stressed about how things are going to go. The truth is that I have very little control over how things are going to go anyway; I can only do what I believe to be right and then things are going to happen as they will. When I live with this attitude I find that I'm more free to enjoy the good stuff that is in life every day and live with an attitude of gratitude.
What about you, is trusting God easy or difficult for you? What has God been teaching you about trusting Him?
5 comments:
Nicely done.
I don't know how familiar you are with some of the details of CS Lewis' Narnia series.
One of my favorites is THE SILVER CHAIR, and I particularly enjoy (and like to identify with) the character named "Puddleglum". He is characterized as the consumate pessimist, always assuming the worst with regard to how things will turn out, but nevertheless staying loyal and faithful to the will of Aslan, the lion symbolizing Christ in the allegory.
When Puddleglum, Jill Pole and Eustace Scrub are faced with the decision of whether to set free a seemingly dangerous madman who asks in the name of Aslan to untie him from the silver chair, they wonder if this was one of the signs that Aslan had told them to look for.
"Oh, if only we knew," said Jill.
"I think we do know," said Puddleglum.
"Do you mean you think everything will come right if we do untie him?," said Scrubb.
"I don't know about that," said Puddleglum. "You see, Aslan didn't tell Pole what would happen. He only told her what to do. That fellow will be the death of us once he's up, I shouldn't wonder. But that doesn't let us off from following the sign."
Of course, the person they set free turned out to be Prince Rilian, whom they had been on a quest to set free, but they would have never known it had they not obeyed.
Excellent example of trusting to do what God says even if it we have no means of knowing if it will turn out our way.
It's funny because as I was thinking today I was reminded of a favorite quote of mine from "The Silver Chair" also:
One light, the next one ahead, went out altogether. Then one behind them did the same. Then they were in absolute darkness.
"Courage, friends," came Prince Rilian's voice. "Whether we live or die Aslan will be our good lord."
"That's right, sir," said Puddleglum's voice. "And you must always remember there's one good thing about being trapped down here: It'll save funeral expenses."
Love the whether we live or die, Aslan is our Lord. Not to mention that Puddleglum consistently amuses me.
Thank you Tracy and TMC!
Sometimes it get a little hard to truth in the unseen....but as long as I know God I will continue to trust Him.... this not a man, that he should lie,nor a son of man, that he should change his mind." Numbers 23:19.
Check you email....let me know...Have a wonderful day!
Wow. I needed this today. I can never have enough reminders that my faith needs to be stronger. But I might have a mustard seed, and you know what they say... :)
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