Trusting God

Have you ever been in a situation so desperate that it just seems hopeless?  Your teenage son or daughter just said they hate you while slamming the door in your face, you’re wondering how you will ever pay the pile of bills that seem to get bigger and bigger each month, your heart is broken so badly you feel that you will never be able to love again, the responsibilities on your shoulders seems so heavy that you might collapse under the weight of it all……  Do any of these situations sound familiar?  Although your situation may seem hopeless, it’s not!  Nothing is beyond the hand of God. 

This world is a sad and lonely place at times but we don’t have to go it alone.  God has given us hope and encouragement through His word.  Answers to all of our daily problems can be found in the bible.  God’s message for each and every one of us is to trust in Him no matter what desperate situation we find ourselves in.  He is the answer and He will show us the way if we only trust in Him.

There are numerous examples in the bible of God’s love and provision for His children when they were faced with what seemed to be an impossible situation.  David went into battle against a giant with a sling shot, Noah was asked to build an Ark, Jonah was swallowed up by a whale, Job lost his entire family, his health and his wealth, Abraham was told to give his son as a sacrifice!  Can you imagine God telling you to build an alter and then use your child as the sacrifice?   Can you imagine doing it?  That would be the ultimate test of my faith for sure!

God’s ways are not our ways.  He is a holy God and trusting Him is the only way to survive the daily battles of this life.  He will either get us through it or get us out of the situation we see as hopeless.  Noah built the ark, David slain the giant, Job was blessed with double of what he had before, Jonah was spit up out of the whale’s belly and because of his faith in the Lord, God provided a sheep in place of Abraham’s son.

Fortunately, this life will end someday and we will be face to face with our creator, God!  Until that time comes we must trust in His ways even when we are facing giants.  Remember there is absolutely nothing we can’t overcome when our faith and trust is in the Lord. 

SCRIPTURES

The angel said, "Don't kill your son or hurt him in any way. Now I can see that you trust God and that you have not kept your son, your only son, from me."  Then Abraham looked up and saw a male sheep caught in a bush by its horns. So Abraham went and took the sheep and killed it. He offered it as a whole burnt offering to God, and his son was saved.  Geneses 22:12-13

The God of my rock; in Him will I trust : He is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my Savior; thou savest me from violence.  I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.   2 Samuel 22:3-4

Behold, if He slay me, yet would I trust in Him; but I will defend mine own ways before Him.  Job 13:15

Motive

Motive - the reason for doing something or behaving in a specific way

There are many homeless who beg throughout the towns and cities where we live.  I see them on a regular basis. Like many of you I have bought gas, given food, money, and water many times.  But most of the time I ask myself if they are really homeless or is this a scam to get money for drugs or alcohol?  Where do they really live; on the street, in a shelter, a hotel or do they have a house of their own?  Why are they homeless?  When I don’t give them money or something to eat I drive away feeling guilty that I didn’t help them.  Why is this? 

It is because we are commanded to help the poor.  Jesus doesn’t tell us to question whether or not the beggar is really homeless, has good intentions or if his motives are pure.  It is our motives He is concerned with.  When we give out of guilt or the need to feel good about ourselves our giving becomes all about us when it should be all about pleasing the Lord.  It isn’t about whether or not the person deserves our kindness. What if God based His decision to send His only Son on whether or not we are deserving?  If this were the case we would all spend eternity in hell. 

Most of us think we do things with the right motive but if we were to dig a little deeper we would find that most times there is some kind of self serving reason behind our actions.  When you do something for the right reason and with a pure motive you are doing God’s work and He will be glorified no matter what the outcome seems to be.  God is working behind the scenes to use our faithfulness to Him in ways that we may never know about.  You can never go wrong doing the right thing.  Your motives are more important than your actions so take the time to ask yourself why you are doing something.  Is it for your benefit or for God’s glory?  Giving produces the fruit of righteousness but only if done with the right motive.

SCRIPTURES

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.  2 Corinthians 9:7-8

If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother.  Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs.  Deuteronomy 15:7-8

"And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve Him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.  1 Chronicles 28:9

Lukewarm Christianity

I feel that God has given me a revelation, in part, about the events over the past three years.  Before the death of our grandson three years ago I was a lukewarm Christian.  I went to church sporadically, I would sometimes drink in excess, I cussed and I was very self-centered.  Although all of these things are true I still felt that I was a pretty good Christian because I made time to pray on a regular basis.  The “Christian” life that I was living was not the one God had planned for me and he got my attention on Christmas Eve morning of 2006.  Caleb died that morning.  My life as I knew it ceased to exist in an instant.

I reached out to God like never before.  I did the only thing I knew how to do – I prayed.  God became real to me over the coming days, weeks and months.  It is hard to explain the changes in my heart and in my life.  Things that seemed so important weren’t that important anymore.  My priorities changed as my heart grew closer to God. 

Then tragedy struck again six months later when our daughter in law and two grandchildren were in a horrible auto accident.  Carmen and Sarah overcame their injuries but as you know Jason (my grandson) was left paralyzed from the neck down.  I just couldn’t imagine why God would allow this to happen to our family.  Why would He allow so much heartache and hardship into one family’s life?  Why my family?  These are questions that I have asked many times over. 

When Caleb died I turned to God for answers and for comfort.  When the accident happened I became totally dependent on Him.  I felt like I couldn’t draw a breath if it weren’t for God being right there beside me.  I came to know God and His great mercy and love in a whole new way – personally.  The personal relationship that transformed my life I believe is the reason Jason (my son) is now seeking his own personal relationship with the Lord.  He is sharing his faith with his friends at school and who knows where that is going to lead? 

My revelation is this:  If the events in my life that led me to seek out the Lord in a personal way had never happened I would still be content being a lukewarm Christian.  I would not be sitting here right now pouring my heart out praying that this message touches just one heart for God.  My transformation set the foundation for Jason (my son) to seek his own personal relationship with the Lord.  He witnessed how the Lord brought me through some of the darkest days of my life and now he wants to know Jesus like he’s never known him before. Jesus has been knocking all this time and now the door is opened for Him to come in.  Whether we know it or even like it the way we live our lives will either win or lose souls for the Kingdom of God.  I am not happy about the events of the past three years but I am thankful that God is faithful and He has used evil for good. 

I cannot claim to know the mind of God.  His ways are not my ways.  “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not My ways”.  This is the Lord’s declaration.  Isaiah 55:8  However, the Word of God assures us of certain promises.  One of those promises is that He is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think.  Ephesians 3:20a  Jason’s “road to Damascus” is proof of this promise and His great mercy for His children.

The Lord Is Faithful

When it seems like we are facing an impossible situation, pray, pray, pray.  Give it to God and ask Him to show you His plan. Ask God to give you faith in Him to keep His promises.  Whatever the outcome of our situation our desire should be that it glorifies the Lord.  God often uses our greatest heartaches or failures for His own glory. Sometimes things don’t work out like we want them to, but we can be certain that God’s glory is shining somewhere.

When we cry out to God we can be assured that He hears us. God wants us to trust in His provision for our needs.  When we step out in faith we allow God to show His love and mercy for us.  God can use any circumstance, tragedy, heart break or evil to bring about healing.   

This weekend my son, Jason, discussed with me that he wants to start a bible study at the school he is attending.  Many of you know for this to happen God has been working in this boy’s heart.  He has begun a mighty work and I can hardly wait to see what God has planned for his life.  I know one thing; he will definitely have a testimony that will lead others to know Christ!  Please keep Jason in your prayers to complete what God has called him to do.

Pray for your children, name them before the Lord.  Never give up hope whatever the circumstance.  God is merciful and He will show His mercy in ways that we may never see.  Even though we have loved ones that are in trouble, in bad relationships, have an addiction of some kind, or lost to the world, remember one thing……God has a plan for them too. 

Give your fears to the Lord.   He will calm your spirit and give you peace to endure until the time has come for His glory to shine. 

SCRIPTURES

Therefore the Lord is waiting to show you mercy, and is rising up to show you compassion, for the Lord is a just God.  Happy are all who wait patiently for Him.  Isaiah 30:18

Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end.  Lamentations 3:22

God – His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is pure.  He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.  Psalm 18:30

You rejoice in this, though now for a short time you have had to be distressed by various trials so that the genuineness of your faith – more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire – may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  1 Peter 1:6-7