In God...We Can Trust!

"Don’t use words too big for the subject. Don’t say infinitely when you mean very; otherwise you’ll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite."   - C. S. Lewis

Do we really know the power that is contained in words? I suppose one could say that the power and value of a word depends, in a large part, upon the person who speaks it and the circumstances of its delivery.

Words spoken that resonate within our hearts and souls are alive. And living words have the characteristics of life. They are brought forth and convey the manner in which they were created. Yes, they might be deprived, or even stripped of meaning, But, they may also be replete with grand implications.

This brings me to my question, "Do you trust in God?"  One might say that this is a reasonable assumption. As an example, "In God We Trust" is the official motto of the United States. You can see this motto on U.S. paper currency. Therefore, if it's used on something as widely accepted as legal tender, then it must mean we trust in God, correct?

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary defines trust as: (n.) Assured resting of the mind on the integrity, veracity, justice, friendship, or other sound principle, of another person; confidence; reliance. When it is layed out this way before us, trust in God becomes more comprehensible.

Certainly, it's easy for those of us who have fully placed our trust in God to understand this. However, those who have yet to make that decision might never do so, unless someone invites them to share in the joy and comfort that can only be had by trusting wholly in God.

Trusting in God is not a "sometimes" or "part-time" endeavor. We must trust in him at all times! This means that our trust cannot be in ourselves or anything else (e.g., jobs, money, celebrities, politicians, etc.) It is to be placed with Him, and Him only (Psalm 118:8)!

God implores that we have to be all in, or not at all. It is quite sad, really, that as we grow up, we trust less and less. In fact, we are told not to trust anyone. The psalmist even warns against trusting in man (Psalm 146:3). Is it any wonder that our minds are skewed towards skepticism and distrust?

Thankfully, God assures us that we can place our trust in him without any of the doubts that we might have with others. We can trust him to guide us when confronted with doubt. When we are in danger, we can trust he will be there. The same applies in times of need, and when we need strength to persevere. We can trust that He will be there.

In order to validate our trust, we must first present our needs and request to God. Then, we patiently surrender ourselves to Him; we pour out our hearts to him. Think of God as a refuge, or safe haven for all. We can safely confide and share with him; without any fear of discernment.

Will every wish or desire be granted by God. No. At least, not in the fashion of a genie and magic lamp. Unfortunately, things don't always turn out the way we want them to. This sometimes causes many to turn away from Him. Does this mean that God can't be trusted? No.

Trust in God should never be based on what one can derive from it. If this is all you want out of your relationship with God, then the chances are pretty good that you will be disappointed. When we place our trust with Him, we are displaying our personal faith in his mercy and grace. Simply put, In God We Trust!

Scripture: Psalm 22:4,5; Psalm 34:1,2; Job 13:15; Isaiah 26:4; Isaiah 50:10

Prayer: Holy Father, when everything around us is dark  and we feel weak and helpless, help us have perfect trust in Your protecting love, and strengthening power. Amen

Have a blessed day!

Heidi