Who Do You Trust?

Trust.

This word alone often produces mixed emotions in people. If you haven't been hurt by people trust may come easily to you. If you have been hurt then you probably look at people through wary eyes, wondering what their true motives toward you are.

I recently spoke to a person who was struggling. Wondering how he would get through the next few hours, few days and the coming year. Through wary, discouraged eyes, I encouraged him not to look at people, because often they can be the source of our pain, but rather I asked him to look to God's word.

"For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does." Psalm 33:4

When we face pandemics, wayward children, oppressive parents, lost and broken relationships, sickness, and betrayal where do we turn? To whom can we look with confidence and know that our trust is well placed? We get a little glimpse of where we can find our hope, peace and rest in Isaiah 30:15 'This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel says: "Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength."'

Our responsibility is to come to Jesus in repentance, and rest in his finished work on the Cross. From this position we will find all we need. Quietness, peace, calm, restfulness. When our hearts feel quieted, we can see clearer. We don't have the noise of worries clamoring for our attention and we can then experience confidence.

But confidence in what? James 1:17 tells us that God never changes or casts a shifting shadow. We can trust that what he has promised he will do. And this is where worry, anxiety, distrustfulness, and weariness can be put aside and we can know that whatever today may hold, we are not facing it alone, and we don't need to have all the answers figured out.

To be sure this is not a one-and-done activity. We need to daily remind ourselves of whom we trust. "as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives..." (Job 19:25). We need daily time in the word of God and prayer to grow a relationship that will strengthen us in the times of trials we are sure to face. But when we make this a priority in our life, when we chose to trust God, even when the world laughs, we will be able to have the quietness and confidence that Joseph had when he said, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good..." (Genesis 50:20)

Happy Easter, know you are not alone, and you are loved.