Trusting God

Trusting God. Having faith in God. Same thing, don't you think? Trust and faith are small words, only five letters each, and yet they are so big in our lives especially when we face difficulties, tragedies and hard times. In light of what has taken place in the extended family of a member of our congregation, I thought we might take a look at trusting God.

When things happen that we don't understand, the first thing we want is answers. We want to know why. We even want to know how God could let such a thing happen. I think many must also admit that as hard as they try not to, really tough events in life cause them to doubt God's love and goodness. Just a little bit, though. Right?

Trusting God can sometimes be hard, but then so can anything else in life. In those hard times, don't shut God out, talk to Him. Ask Him your questions. He is big enough, strong enough to withstand your heart's pain.

I would not advise you to be so boastful as Job and announce that you are going to "question God and He will answer you" as if you may somehow make demands on God. Don't do that. God may sit you down like He did Job and you'll be the one stammering for answers to the questions He will ask you.

But before you go to God, let me point you in the direction of some things to think about. Before you ask God why, remember that sin is in the world and that Satan is, for the present time, the ruler of the earth. Adam handed that rulership over to Satan when he sinned in the garden. Remember that sin touches us all. In fact, we are all guilty of sinning. Adam gave sin a sliver of an opening and Satan took the world.

And God allowed it to happen, just as He allows tragedies to happen and hard times to come. In His Sovereignty, God is allowing sin to run its course and sin has not reached the end that God has set. Yet. But it will.

God allows Man to reap the harvest he has sown, whether it be a harvest of righteousness sown by following the teachings of God and living life His way, or a harvest of sin sown by rebellion against God. And often the harvest of sin in a lost person's life claims the innocent as a victim.

Another thing to think about in a time like this is what ultimately takes place when a child of God is the victim unto death. That victim loses life here in earth's ongoing sorrow and pain, but gains life eternally in Heaven's bliss. What Joseph said to his brothers about "what you meant for evil, God meant for good," becomes a glorious prophesy applied to the life, the eternal life, of the victim.

Trust God. Have faith in Him. That means having trust and faith in Him no matter what happens. We don't know the end of the story. We don't know how God might use the events that have so saddened us to change the world. Trust Him. He is worthy of your faith.

And please as you pray, trust Him and pray continually to Him for revival. O, God's people, the fate of our nation rests with you and your willingness to be humbly in obedient, confessional prayer before God that He will hear from heaven and heal our land. Trust. Trust and Pray.

In His Love
Walter