I will trust in You

At one time, trust came so easily. Trusting in God was just a natural heart-response to who He is, what He has done, and what He has promised He will do in the future. I didn’t even have to think about it – I simply trusted Him.

Today….well, as one who believes that we should be honest with ourselves, with God and with others…it is something I am having to choose to do. Not because I doubt God and His character - but because I am allowing myself to become too distracted by circumstances. The account of Peter’s response to Jesus walking on water springs to mind.

“During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. 'It's a ghost', they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: 'Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid'. 'Lord, if it's you', Peter replied, 'tell me to come to you on the water'. 'Come', he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came towards Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, 'Lord, save me!' Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. 'You of little faith', he said, 'why did you doubt?' And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshipped him, saying, 'Truly you are the Son of God'.” (Mt 14:25-33)

Like Peter, my eyes have dwelt too long on the wind. I look at the wind blowing in my personal circumstances and I become afraid; I look at the wind blowing in worldwide situations and I become afraid. I need to fill my vision up with Christ, the One who has the power to cause the wind to die down, and Who triumphs over all.

I’m currently reading The Attributes of God by Arthur W. Pink - thanks to Diane Bucknell and her recent book giveaway :) Today I read this passage on the faithfulness of God, which really encouraged me, especially as it contains a verse which a dear friend recently shared with me.

“There are seasons in the lives of all when it is not easy, no not even for Christians, to believe that God is faithful. Our faith is sorely tried, our eyes bedimmed with tears, and we can no longer trace the outworkings of His love. Our ears are distracted with the noises of the world, harassed by the atheistic whisperings of Satan, and we can no longer hear the sweet accents of His still small voice. Cherished plans have been thwarted, friends on whom we relied have failed us, a professed brother or sister in Christ has betrayed us. We are staggered. We sought to be faithful to God, and now a dark cloud hides Him from us. We find it difficult, yes, impossible, for carnal reason to harmonize His frowning providence with His gracious promises. Ah, faltering soul, severely tried fellow pilgrim, seek grace to heed Isaiah 50:10, "Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of his servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God."

Christine Pack shared this quote today on Facebook: ‎"In short, God in his mercy to you, will put you in a place where you cannot control the circumstances and you have no choice but to cry out to him for help...The next time you are in what appears to be an impossible situation, think less about yourself and what you are losing and more about God and what you gain by trusting and resting in him." - The Counseling Solutions Group.

So as I shift my focus from my circumstances and instead contemplate God and who He is, what He has done, and what He has promised to do, my heart can only cry out in response to His asking me “Do you trust Me?” with the words of the psalmist:

Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.

Psalm 73:25-26