“5 Bring righteous offerings,
and trust the LORD!
6 Many people say,
“We can’t find goodness anywhere.
The light of your face has left us, LORD!”
7 But you have filled my heart with more joy
than when their wheat and wine are
everywhere!
8 I will lie down and fall asleep in peace
because you alone, LORD,
let me live in safety.
(Psalm 4:5–8)
Good Day Family,
Trusting God Beyond Circumstances
How does your situation impact your faith? How does your trust in God waver based on your situation? Scripture tells us in all things to give thanks. We’re also encouraged not to lean on our own understanding, but to trust in God. Those words come easily, but the living it out can challenge even the most faithful. It’s hard to trust God when we don’t see a resolution to our problem. It’s a herculean task to uphold our faith when God seems silent in face of overwhelming tragedies and calamities. The realities of living a year in pandemic demonstrate how difficult walking with God can be.
But this begs the question: what is the source of our faith? Do we trust God because our lives have been full of blessings…or do we trust God because we have the experience of God as a comforter, protector, and restorer? Is our faith based on God satisfying our needs or based on God creating us? Faith and trust often get lumped together or used interchangedly, but they aren’t exactly the same. In some ways, faith is believing that God can, and trust is believing that God will. One responds to God’s power and ability; the other centers on God’s nature and character.
Trusting, I think, is harder than believing. We are called to do both, and both our faith and trust can be tested by our circumstances. Thanks be to God that when we fail, we get a new chance, a fresh start, and an open door into the heart of God. The psalmist knew this and speaks to the faithfulness of God. The One who formed us will never leave us or abandon us even in the worst of circumstances, God is with us. The seasons of Lent and Easter illustrate the lengths that God will go to demonstrate God’s faithfulness and abiding love. What a gift!
Trusting and Believing,
Be well,
Pastor Cheryl