Trust is a Way of Life

In recent weeks when the Lord was speaking to me about not worrying - He also spoke to me about trust.  I'm so very familiar with that topic because I've had to trust the Lord so much in recent years.  I couldn't have made it without trusting the Lord and holding His hand on the difficult journey. 

But trust isn't a one-time thing.  It's daily, maybe even hourly, as we go through life's trials.  Trust is a way of life.  It's telling the Lord we trust Him when things don't go right - when prayers aren't answered in the way we asked - when we have questions - when we're confused, discouraged even.  Trust trumps everything!

Trust is the solid foundation in our walk with the Lord.  If we don't fully, 100% trust the Lord - we're in big trouble.  But with trust, the pieces of the puzzle (the pieces of our life) come together.

"Commit everything you do to the Lord.  Trust Him, and He will help you."  Psalm 37:5

"I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation."  Psalm 13:5

"He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord."  Psalm 112:7

"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.  Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul."  Psalm 143:8

"It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.  It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes."  Psalm 118:8,9 

"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."  Isaiah 55:9

"I have set the Lord always before me.  Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken."  Psalm 16:8

Whatever it is I'm facing, if I speak out my trust in the Lord everything seems to fall into place.  He is truly my help and refuge.  How good He is!

Rock of Ages

The last couple weeks have been pretty intense for me.  There have been many things for me to deal with.  There was one thing that hit me particularly hard.  I immediately felt nervous, anxious, fearful even.  I knew I needed to take it to the Lord right away - which I did.  I proclaimed my trust in Him.  I immediately thought of the verse "When I am afraid, I will trust in you." - Psalm 56:3.  David was a mighty warrior, but he had moments of fear.....and he knew what to do with that fear.  He turned to the Lord.

Fear and trust can go hand-in-hand.  It all depends on our response.  That's what David was saying in that verse.  We don't need to beat ourselves up if we are anxious or fearful.  We just need to take our emotion to the Lord, and affirm our trust in Him.  When I did that, and I also asked some friends to pray for me, a sweet peace came into my heart.

"The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."  Deuteronomy 31:8

"After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire.  And after the fire came a gentle whisper."  1 Kings 19:12 

"He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him."  Psalm 91:15

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."  Isaiah 41:10

"Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.  Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me."  Psalm 23:4

My situation isn't resolved, but I know God is with me and carrying me through it.  I feel His covering of peace. 

It's rare for a day to go by that I don't thank the Lord for being my ROCK.  I know I need to cling to the Lord as my steadfast, sure rock.  He has supported me through all I've gone through. 

A friend sent me a story from a devotional.  A young man was in a ship wreck and lost at sea.  He was able to grab a big rock.  He was cold and trembling the whole night with waves crashing all around him.  Later after he was rescued people asked him if he wasn't scared.  He replied, "I was scared, but the rock never moved!"

I love that!  The Rock I cling to never moves either.  He has stayed firm as my foundation all these years.  I think of the song - "Rock of ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee."  I have hidden myself in the wonderful Rock of Jesus.

"The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.  He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.  I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise."  Psalm 18:1-3

"The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer."  2 Samuel 22:2

"My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him.  He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved." Psalm 62:5,6

When I have been in need, called out to the Lord, and waited for Him - He has always come through as my Rock.  He has never failed me.  He is so faithful!

Trust Him With the Whys

I imagine that most of us have at some time asked the "why?" question.  Why haven't I been healed?  Why was my prayer not answered?  Jesus himself asked the Father "why have you forsaken me?"  I asked the "why" question several times while Floyd was sick.  The answer I got every time was to trust Him - that Floyd was not forgotten.  That He had a plan.  Someday I'll fully understand that plan.

I love "The Chosen" series.  I'm just watching all three seasons over again.  They minister to me each time.  There is a scene in Season 3, Episode 2 entitled "Two by Two."  Jesus has just told the disciples that He is sending them out in pairs to preach the Gospel and do signs and wonders.  It is a surprise to them, and they are processing what it means.

Little James goes to ask Jesus a question.  He wonders how he can heal others when he himself hasn't been healed - and he asks Jesus why He hasn't healed him.  It's a poignant scene - and one that spoke directly to me!

Jesus explains that He hasn't healed him because He trusts him.  God has a plan for him, but it's a bit of a mystery.  God will use him "in spite" of not being healed.  And He asks Little James to, in turn, trust Him.

I so identify with that conversation!  I pray for healing - but I also tell the Lord I trust Him.  I know that "His ways are higher than my ways."  I know that He gives me daily strength and grace in spite of not being healed.  I read this quote - "One day you'll see why God made you wait."  That day may not be until heaven, but someday we'll understand all the "whys."

Jesus makes it clear that He uses us whether we're healed and get our answers or not.  He has a plan!  I trust His plan.

"When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.  In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid."  Psalm 56:3,4

"The Lord is my strength and my shield.  My heart trusts Him."  Psalm 28:7

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight."  Proverbs3:5,6

"He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord."  Psalm 112:7

"Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act."  Psalm 37:5

"Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge."  Psalm 62:8

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

"You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.  Trust in the Lord, forever, for the Lord, the Lord Himself, is the ROCK eternal."  Isaiah 26:3,4

I'm so grateful that I can "pour out my heart" to Him.  He is my Refuge, my Rock!  I speak that out to Him pretty much daily.  I give my "why" questions to Him and trust Him because He is completely trustworthy.  And I'm grateful that He trusts me.

Last year a UK publisher reissued Floyd's book - "The Father Heart of God."  It's only the UK edition, not the US.  I love to read and have a continual stack of books that I'm working my way through.  The stack never gets finished as I keep adding to it.  I'm a bit old fashioned - I don't like reading online.  I like holding the book in my hands. :)

I just finished a book and was looking at what I'd read next - when my eye caught the new "Father Heart" book.  Floyd wrote the book long ago in 1985 - 38 years ago.  I'm amazed and grateful that it is still selling and ministering to people.

As I've read the book, I've been so blessed.   It's "fresh" - could have been written a few months ago rather than all those years ago.  God must certainly have had His hand on Floyd in writing it.  My heart has been captured afresh by the Father's love.  Page after page feels like it's speaking right to me.  I wish I could tell Floyd how much I'm loving reading it.

"As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him."  Psalm 103:13

"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!  And that is what we are."  1 John 3:1

"Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?  If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!"  Matthew 7:11,12

" 'And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me,' says the Lord Almighty."  2 Corinthians 6:18

"We love, because He first loved us."  1 John 4:19

"For God loved the world in this way:  He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life."  John 3:16

I have truly fallen in love with the Father all over again - and received His love for me in fresh ways.  I'm so grateful for Floyd's book!

Don't Forget the Blessings

Last week I was feeling overwhelmed by some tasks I needed to accomplish.  With my limited strength, I never seem to get as much done as I'd like.  I was talking to the Lord about it and He reminded me of a story that encouraged me.

A little boy with a small shovel was trying to clear some deep snow in front of his house.  A man came by and asked how a little boy with such a small shovel could accomplish such as big task.  The little boy replied with great confidence, "Little by little."  And he kept working.

The Lord spoke that word to my heart.  He'll help me "little by little."  I just need to keep working and keep trusting in the Lord's help.  It's a simple word - and an obvious one in many ways - but it was just what I needed.

"Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased, and you inherit the land."  Exodus 23:30

I can imagine how the Israelites felt.  They were in their promised land, but they faced many challenges - many enemies they needed to conquer, many things they needed to do.  God gave them the same encouragement and direction that He gave me - "little by little." 

"Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."  Hebrews 4:16

"Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass."  Psalm 37:5 

"With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."  Mark 10:27

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.....do not be troubled and do not be afraid."  John 14:27

Little by little with His grace, strength, and peace - we can make it through anything! 

This week I've had a good week.  What joy it brings me to say that!!!  I'm feeling good, and my strength is steadily returning.  I've even been able to do one of the tasks on my list - little by little, until it was done.  That brings me joy too!  I'm sure all this is an answer to prayer and I’m so grateful!

A friend of mine told me something special that she did.  She has a friend who is battling stage 4 cancer.  I'm sure it's been hard for her.  To encourage her, my friend printed and cut out over a month's worth of encouraging scriptures - ones that I've shared in the updates.  She put them all in a "blessings" jar.  Her friend can pull out one each day to be reminded of God's goodness, faithfulness, and love for her.  I loved that idea!

In the midst of difficulty, it's easy to see the hard things - but we sometimes forget the blessings that God has for us.  During Floyd's illness, I kept a file of songs, scriptures, and thoughts that encouraged me.  I would go to that file often and let the Lord minister those things to me.  I guess it was my "blessings file."  It was such a help to me.

God is with us each step of the way when we go through trials, sickness, and hard times.  I'm so grateful I'm not alone.

"For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, 'Do not fear; I will help you.' "  Isaiah 41:13

"I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears."  Psalm 34:4 

"How priceless is your unfailing love!  Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings."  Psalm 36:7 

"I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I put my hope."  Psalm 130:5

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."  John 14:27 

In the midst of a hard time, the enemy wants us to focus on the difficulty.  He wants us to be weighed down and discouraged.  But the Lord wants us to keep our eyes on Him, and feast on the promises in His word.  When we do that, He will bear our burdens and bring encouragement to our hearts.  He protects us from falling into the despair that the enemy has for us.  I am so, so grateful for the Lord's loving care in each trial I've walked through the last 9 years.  How good God is!  A loving, faithful Father!

Choose Trust Every Day

I don't think there is a day that goes by that I don't feel heartbroken over something that is happening.  It can be close to my heart - a friend or family member who is very ill.  It can be a tragic event in our area, like the fire in a nearby township.  It can be a catastrophic weather event.  They seem to be happening almost constantly all over the world.  My heart breaks - I want to do something - I want to change things - I want to meet the need, solve the problem.  But here I sit on my own battling cancer.  It's frustrating.

I was talking to the Lord about this, and He reminded me of a verse in Psalm 46:10.  "Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."  

I know it boils down to trust.  I need to trust the Lord.  None of the problems are too big for Him, and nothing is out of control.  He is bigger than anything that is happening, and He is at work to accomplish His plans and purposes in our world.  When I don't understand, I need to simply tell Him I trust Him.

Trust is a lesson that I have learned over and over and over these last 8 years.  But it's not a lesson that is ever finished - "done and dusted" as they say here.  It's a lesson that I have to keep committing my heart to.  I have to keep choosing trust repeatedly.  When I make that choice - there is a "peace that passes understanding" that comes.  When I don't choose trust, there is the frustration of not being able to do something about all the needs and problems.

I am choosing trust afresh today.  There are several things that are heavy on my heart.  I am giving them to the Lord one by one.  I am expressing my confidence in the Lord to "be exalted in the earth" in each situation, each need, each problem, each concern, each worry, each fear.  He is trustworthy.  He is faithful.  He is over all!  He is mindful of every small and large thing on my heart.

"Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.' "  Mark 10:27

"Why are you in despair, O my soul?  And why have you become disturbed within me?  Hope in God!"  Psalm 42:5

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding." Proverbs 3:5

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."  Hebrews 13:8 

"Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand."  Proverbs 19:21

God is at work.  He is mindful of all that is happening.  My trust is in Him.  I will keep making that choice.  And I choose not to strive.

If you've read many of my updates, you know that I often hear the Lord speak to me through His creation, and through the every day things of life.  That happened to me this week.

Floyd was always very security conscious.  From the very early days of leading teams in outreach, he would carefully think through security protocols.  He felt if people were placed under his care then he wanted to do everything he could to protect them.  I always loved that about him.

When we moved to where I live now, he, once again, thought through all the security issues.  One important one is that we live in a fire risk area.  He bought fire extinguishers to place in many rooms of the house, in our little shed, etc.  These red canisters need to be serviced regularly in order to be at top form should they be needed in an emergency.  I'm grateful I've not had to use them, but I definitely want them to be fully functional.

So, this was the week when the service man came to our house to check that they are in working order.  He does some kind of "top up" to make sure they are fully ready to be used.

As I watched this process, I felt that little inner voice speaking to me.  I, too, need to have check ups to make sure I'm fully ready to be used by the Lord for whatever He has in store for me.  I can't just hope that all is well.  I can't postpone checking in with the Lord to see what He is speaking to me - what lessons he wants me to learn.  I can't neglect time with Him.  I can't skip reading His word.  I can't neglect talking to Him.  I can't neglect worshipping, praising, and thanking Him.  I need the regular "servicing" of the Holy Spirit to keep me in top form in my walk with the Lord.  Without adequate preparation, I won't make it through the "fires" of life.

I love visual reminders of important spiritual lessons.  The visuals stick with me, and remind me of important principles.  My fire extinguishers being maintained gave me a powerful visual this week - and will continue to do so when I see them around my house! 

"Physical training is good, but training for Godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come." 1 Timothy 4:8

"The one who gets wisdom loves life; the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper."  Proverbs 19:8

"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."  Philippians 4:13

"The eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him."  2 Corinthians 16:9

"The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame.  You will like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail."  Isaiah 58:11

"I will lift up my eyes to the hills - from whence comes my help?  My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth."  Psalm 121:1,2

I'm so grateful that the Lord is available 24/7 to fill us up with everything we need to face the "fires" of life.  He is so faithful!