Trust in God

Tomorrow (May 29th) is a special day in a couple ways.  Firstly, it's a tender day for me as it marks 3 years since Floyd went to be with Jesus.  The time has flown by - it doesn't seem that long.  In some ways, it just feels like a few weeks ago.  And, on the other hand, it feels like it was ages ago.  Time is a strange thing.

The second thing is that it's our national elections here in South Africa.  I'm a permanent resident, but not a natural born South African - so I'm not allowed to vote.  But I sure am praying!!  There are a lot of things at stake in the elections.  Some are saying it's the most important election since 1994 when apartheid came to an end.  Please pray that God's sovereign hand will be on these elections.

There are a number of countries facing big elections this year - the US and UK among them.  It feels like so much is happening.  I've been thinking that in times of change, in times of unsettledness, and in any time of trial - trust in God's rule overall is such an important foundation.  Trust has been a key element for everything in my life in the past decade!  If I don't have my trust firmly and securely in the Lord then other things can feel so vulnerable.

Asking questions of why/why not - or what if - can undermine that trust.  Honestly, I have lots of questions about things in my life, in our family, and in our ministry.  But dwelling on those questions won't do any good.  I don't think I'll have answers until I stand before the Lord in heaven - and my questions probably won't even matter then.  But I'll have eternity - so maybe I'll get a chance to chat with God about it all!  But, for now, I just need to keep my trust in the Lord firm and secure.  He is absolutely trustworthy.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding."  Proverbs 3:5

"Those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you."  Psalm 9:10

"You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you."  Isaiah 26:3

"Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe."  Proverbs 29:25

"Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God."  Psalm 20:7

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me.  My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise Him."  Psalm 28:7

When my trust is firm and secure in the Lord - everything else falls into place.....even if I have questions about it all.  Trust keeps my heart at peace, and allows me to receive all I need from the Lord to make it through whatever I'm facing.

I completely trust my wonderful, faithful Father!

He Hovers Over Us

When we go through hard things, we have a choice of how to respond.

-  We can ask God questions, sometimes even in a demanding way.  In our pain, we may bombard heaven with "why" questions.  But God isn't obligated to answer our questions.  Sometimes He does, but often He doesn't.  He's God!  Our place is to trust and simply ask for His help to make it through the difficulties.

-  We can get upset and angry - which will eat away at our heart and open the door to bitterness.  This choice, this path, will destroy us.  I watched it happen to a family member and it broke my heart.

-  We can become discouraged by the difficult things that have come our way.  God understands our sorrow, our pain - but if we settle and stay in the place of discouragement, it robs us of the joy of the Lord that is our strength.

I have become convinced that God uses the trials, suffering, and pain to build our character and grow our faith.  He takes what is so difficult and hard, and redeems it by building strength and resilience into our lives.  He turns the negative things into good and beauty by drawing us unto Himself and making us more like Him.

We have to remember in the midst of the difficulties that the One that matters most to us, the One that we love will never let go of us in the hard times.  In the stormy times of trials and sufferings we need to be on guard by trusting that God will definitely never let go of us.  In His great love for us, He'll heal the pain, bring peace to the fear, destroy the seeds of doubt, and fill our hearts with hope.  Hope, then, keeps us going.

"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer."  Romans 12:12

"They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."  Isaiah 40:31

And I add my words to that verse - they shall make it through the hardest, darkest trials by trusting in the Lord.

"Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."  Hebrews 11:l

"He fills the needs of those who fear Him.  He hears their cries for help and saves them."  Psalm 145:19

"The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart."  Psalm 34:18

"Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, that hovers over its young, He spread His wings and caught them, He carried them on His pinions."  Deuteronomy 32:11

We can't see Him - but He is "hovering" over us as we walk through trials and suffering.  He is carrying us through the hard times.

The previous years have had lots of trials, some deep suffering, and some difficult pain.  But I can give testimony to the fact that God has never left me.  He has been faithfully by my side through each thing I've faced.  He has carried me.  He has strengthened my faith, and built into my character.  He has used the hard times for good in countless ways.  He is faithful - abundantly so!