The phrase “trust in God” has become almost cliche in Christian circles. One of those ‘christian-ese’ terms that we so frequently are accused of. The reality of trusting God however, goes far beyond what we in our comfort-laden society conceive of.
Psalm 91:2 – 3 says “I will say of the Lord… in Him I will trust. Surely He shall deliver you…” This passage can be literally painful for those of us waiting on unfulfilled promises. That promised healing, anticipated relationship, necessary financial provision; the list is endless. It boils down to the fact that we expected something that the Lord promised, and it did not happen. What then? How do we live in the tension of believing His Word yet seeing the promises still waiting, collecting dust on the shelf per se, bringing pain and the rending of our heart-strings. The temptation is to simply say “I trust God” and then sit back, believing that ‘what will be, will be’ and there is nothing we can do about it. To cease hoping, praying, and pursuing the fulfillment of the promise. Yet to set the promise aside is to cast aside trust and live a lie. It is saying on one hand “I trust” but living entirely different.
Trust truly is radical. It is choosing to remain in the pain. It is choosing to not be offended with God because he has delayed what he promised to do. It is pressing in with prayer, giving of finances, asking for healing and believing that God is going to answer. It is in that place of being torn between what we see to be true and what we believe to be true that our hearts learn what it means to hope. Our hearts learn what it means that God loves us in our weakness. We learn to love, because we are learning to trust.
1 Comment
March 15, 2008 at 2:49 pm
hey lady!!! Let me know when you’re ever visiting the NY area, I’d love to see you!