Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Trusting Him...even more...
I feel like God is calling me to trust Him even more deeply than the day before. It's like this never-ending cycle, right? We begin to trust Him in one area of our lives and then He calls us further into the maze, to trust with stronger faith. If it's not your own issues, then it's something about your kids. Or maybe you've got some financial issues that are dragging you down.
Perhaps it's an ongoing battle with your spouse... because marriage seems to be a never-ending work in progress given by the Master as well. He's constantly shaping us into His service and His workmanship directly through the hands of our loved one. Will we trust God to make us more patient, less angry, more forgiving? Will we let that issue go, that's not really that big of a deal anyways?
The question we have to ask ourselves in all of these things is this: Is God faithful? If He is, then whatever we face, no matter how small or big, we know we can get through it. Do you believe it, daughter or son of the King? Do you really believe that God is faithful? Do you think He sees you during those quiet moments when no-one else can? I think He does.
Easier said than done though, right? That's usually where my struggle begins. I feel like God is faithful one day, but maybe not so much the next. I overcome a huge obstacle and then within days, I'm like: "Well God, how in the world are you going to help me with this next thing?" It's like I'm a child who has all my needs met... but constantly implores, "When's my next snack? I need one NOW...even though you just gave me one fifteen minutes ago!"
We know as parents that our kids' needs are always on the center of our minds. We readily intend to meet their next and most immediate need. But, sometimes their urgency makes us feel like they don't think we'll come through for them. When one of my kids comes running down the stairs yelling, "More chips pleaaaaaase..." you would think he or she had suffered from a severe form of starvation. The truth is, I'm constantly offering them food throughout the day; they could never feel starved in our family's home.
That's how God is with us as well. He meets our needs so abundantly. During His time on earth, Jesus said, "...I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10b). He goes on to say, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep" (v. 11). I mean, how can we waste even one second worrying about whether or not God is going to come through for us? He gave us His very own life!
He sacrificed everything for us. He heard the battle cry. He conquered the ugly grip of sin that enslaved us by nailing His own hands and ankles upon the cross. Sure...the Roman soldiers held the hammers, but don't you know His own power allowed the nails to dig into His flesh? In just one millisecond, He could have released the heavenly battalions and commanded the injustice to end. But He didn't. He hung on the cross so that you and I could be free.
When you feel like you can't really trust Jesus, picture a cross hanging in your own home. Would you get on it for someone else? And even if you would be willing to, have you been called to do that any time recently? Pretty sure your answer is "No." So the least you and I can do is this: trust our Savior...because He is trustworthy.
The Apostle Paul reminds us to hand our stresses over to God: "Do not be anxious about ANYTHING, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends ALL understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6+7).
Maybe this post doesn't change anything for you. You're still strung out. That stressful situation still looms over you like a thundercloud. That bill still rests on your chaotic counter-top. Your kid still struggles with that same old issue. You still have to forgive your spouse for being grumpy this very morning.
But, here's the thing about Jesus. When you give Him a little, he takes it and multiplies it. So, start out small with three simple steps. First, take twenty seconds and talk to the Lord about it. Say, "God, this thing overwhelms me. Help!" Second, write down a few of the verses listed above on a sticky note and paste it somewhere to remind you of how He cares.
Third, lift your hands up to heaven as a symbol of how you're letting this stuff go. The issues that your family faces are outside of your control, but not outside of His. You can rest now because you are in good hands.
Perhaps it's an ongoing battle with your spouse... because marriage seems to be a never-ending work in progress given by the Master as well. He's constantly shaping us into His service and His workmanship directly through the hands of our loved one. Will we trust God to make us more patient, less angry, more forgiving? Will we let that issue go, that's not really that big of a deal anyways?
The question we have to ask ourselves in all of these things is this: Is God faithful? If He is, then whatever we face, no matter how small or big, we know we can get through it. Do you believe it, daughter or son of the King? Do you really believe that God is faithful? Do you think He sees you during those quiet moments when no-one else can? I think He does.
Easier said than done though, right? That's usually where my struggle begins. I feel like God is faithful one day, but maybe not so much the next. I overcome a huge obstacle and then within days, I'm like: "Well God, how in the world are you going to help me with this next thing?" It's like I'm a child who has all my needs met... but constantly implores, "When's my next snack? I need one NOW...even though you just gave me one fifteen minutes ago!"
We know as parents that our kids' needs are always on the center of our minds. We readily intend to meet their next and most immediate need. But, sometimes their urgency makes us feel like they don't think we'll come through for them. When one of my kids comes running down the stairs yelling, "More chips pleaaaaaase..." you would think he or she had suffered from a severe form of starvation. The truth is, I'm constantly offering them food throughout the day; they could never feel starved in our family's home.
That's how God is with us as well. He meets our needs so abundantly. During His time on earth, Jesus said, "...I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10b). He goes on to say, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep" (v. 11). I mean, how can we waste even one second worrying about whether or not God is going to come through for us? He gave us His very own life!
He sacrificed everything for us. He heard the battle cry. He conquered the ugly grip of sin that enslaved us by nailing His own hands and ankles upon the cross. Sure...the Roman soldiers held the hammers, but don't you know His own power allowed the nails to dig into His flesh? In just one millisecond, He could have released the heavenly battalions and commanded the injustice to end. But He didn't. He hung on the cross so that you and I could be free.
When you feel like you can't really trust Jesus, picture a cross hanging in your own home. Would you get on it for someone else? And even if you would be willing to, have you been called to do that any time recently? Pretty sure your answer is "No." So the least you and I can do is this: trust our Savior...because He is trustworthy.
The Apostle Paul reminds us to hand our stresses over to God: "Do not be anxious about ANYTHING, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends ALL understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6+7).
Maybe this post doesn't change anything for you. You're still strung out. That stressful situation still looms over you like a thundercloud. That bill still rests on your chaotic counter-top. Your kid still struggles with that same old issue. You still have to forgive your spouse for being grumpy this very morning.
But, here's the thing about Jesus. When you give Him a little, he takes it and multiplies it. So, start out small with three simple steps. First, take twenty seconds and talk to the Lord about it. Say, "God, this thing overwhelms me. Help!" Second, write down a few of the verses listed above on a sticky note and paste it somewhere to remind you of how He cares.
Third, lift your hands up to heaven as a symbol of how you're letting this stuff go. The issues that your family faces are outside of your control, but not outside of His. You can rest now because you are in good hands.
Labels: Bible, faith, kids, parents, trust
