Trust Is Tough
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“When I am most afraid, I put my trust in you… ” (Psalm 56:3)
With the sun setting beyond a placid lake and the sky softly glowing, we see the silhouette of a tall young man walking hand in hand with his small daughter. It is a painting that some would say perfectly captures the essence of trust: the child is quietly confident in the presence of her protective parent.
Yet the psalmist would tell us that this scene pictures only the early stages of trust. Walking together – with loving parent, friend, spouse…or God – in peaceful times is important and necessary for the process of developing the relationship. But the tough test of trust comes “when we are most afraid.??? In his book Ruthless Trust, Brennan Manning writes that the Old Testament patriarch Abraham “models the essence of trust…convinced (emphasis mine) of the reliability of God.??? Further he writes, “without exception trust must be purified in the crucible of trial.???
When we have walked hand in hand with the Savior in peaceful times, His presence will then be sure and constant when we are most afraid.
~Thank You, loving Father, for those times when we have peacefully walked hand in hand. Thank You for those moments when I have learned to love You. Now, Lord, when times are tough, I want to step up to the next level of trust.
About the Author: This devotional was written by Marilyn Ehle. Read more about Marilyn: http://www.talk.thelife.com/authors/marilyn-ehle/
Questions
Have you ever been “most afraid” and how did God help you in that situation?
Tell us about your walk with the Lord.
What can you truly praise the Lord for today?
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Related Article
How God saved my marriage
http://www.christianwomentoday.com/womenmen/godsavedmy.html
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22 Responses to “Trust Is Tough”
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What Do You Fear?
What do you fear, and why? Is it holding you back from realizing your full potential?
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Jessica…I’m so inspired to hear your story. Praise God. What a blessing indeed…all because of a little faith and much obedience…Praise God. Because of your job and the promotion I pray that things are more financially comfortable with the 2 of you, certainly the housing and food is a total blessing as it’s not something you need to pay extra for. Oh Jessica, God really does hear our prayers and he really does answer us. He loves us so much. All we need is a little faith and to simply depend on his word, his word will never come back void.
Claudine, thank you for your prayers!
So much to say, but I’ll be as brief as I can. My husband and I moved out of our apartment, and into the married housing at the divinity school I attend. It was his first thought after we learned about the eviction, and since I didn’t want to go through the whole apartment search again, knowing that our eviction would probably come up, too, I agreed. We moved in on Saturday, and it has been absolutely wonderful. It is a community of nice people (I don’t think Spirit-filled, but still…) The commute is shorter for me, and when my husband starts his studies up again it will also be shorter for him. He has not found a job, but he has been active and taking on most of the housework, which has been a blessing. He is now looking to work within the Theology department at his school.
Our marriage has been incredibly strengthened through the obstacles. We decide on all our financial decisions together – down to $20! – and we have learned to deal with frustrations in a calmer, more mature and respectful way. I started Christian counseling a month or so ago to deal with my parents, and it has helped me tremendously to grow emotionally.
My new job has been a blessing, not just financially but for myself. I am Director of Membership, which is an executive position, and I am just so favored by God, it is a blessed responsibility. The job environment is very healthy, and I get a full hour for lunch to read the Bible or do something else encouraging.
Also, in church life we have been doing well. I gave my testimony a month ago at a youth retreat, and since then I’ve been asked to give it to the whole community. I’ve also joined our community’s women’s bible study, which is the answer to my prayer for more Christian fellowship.
So that’s my update for now- God is good! All the time!
Please pray with me for all victims of war today, especially in the Holy Land.
Hi Khaya and Jessica…
Please share any updates or testimonies…I have been thinking of you.
Jessica…I am so inspired by you. Your entry brought me to tears. I see so perfectly how God is moving in your life. He no longer wanted you to be burdened with rent and as such has provided you on-campus housing along with food…if that is not God then I do not know what it is. It’s so wonderful and encouraging to see your trust in the Lord is full and complete. I so desire your complete trust in him that I am almost envious (Lord please forgive me). I’m so happy to hear of this joyous update in your lives. Your husband will also be blessed with work (no worries), but in the meantime be blessed knowing that God is taking care of you and always will.
Khaya…I share almost the same experience with you (without the baby). I so desire that the relationship between my boyfriend and I would improve. I know that we love each other, but things have been so bad lately that I fear the worst (breakup). I do not want this to happen and cannot figure out why we cannot seem to get things right. We both desire the same things (marriage, kids, a happy life together), but I am stuck in a situation where I feel things are just not moving. I pray daily for him and myself too, but I’m at a point where I just don’t know what to pray for anymore. I understand that James says “You have not because you ask not.” But, I am asking daily. I pray for rejuvenation and refreshment in my relationship. I want for us to both be happy. I just don’t know what to pray for anymore. I love him so much and he feels the same way about me…i just don’t know what to do anymore. My life seems so dry and I’ve been craving that the Lord finally answer my prayers, but I cannot see it. I don’t want to quit because I don’t know how close I am to having my prayers answered. Anyhow, I just pray that both you (Khaya) and I will be blessed by a rejuvenation and refreshment in our relationships. That God will bless and tranform our lives and change those things that need to be changed. In addition, I pray that God will bless our boyfriends to open their eyes, ears, hearts and minds to the truth…that they too will be transformed. That they will abhor what is evil and cling to what is good and be repulsed by anything or anyone that becomes a lure. In Jesus’ name I pray AMEN.
Khaya,
I have one word for you: pray. I have seen such incredible change in my husband, and experienced such peace in my heart, that I never thought was possible, by praying in faith that God would lead him in wisdom and righteousness.
Here’s a link that will immediately be a comfort to you- the Power of a Praying Wife.
http://www.stormieomartian.com/details.cfm?product=5075722
Click on the excerpt, and read on, sister! Let God show you the wonders He can do as you surrender your situation, and trust that both you and your boyfriend will be led by the Lord in your attitudes and actions.
Keep us updated.
hi all
jessica’s story is almost similar o mine. except that i am trusting God for a my current relationship to be renewed. my boyfriend & i have a baby and things haven’t been that great. i was at the poitn of giving up but God spoke to me and explicitly showed me that he has that relationship. he’s not born again but allows me to share the word with him.
we are both living in seperate apartments which is working out to be expensive.
please pray for us that God bring us closeer to him & to each other sooner than later. i have lease that is expering in month. i am trustong God that he will ask for my hadn in marriage so we can at least pick up the pieces & also fix our financial situation.
i love you all in the wonderful name of our Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ
Hi ladies,
Thank you for you continued prayers and support. Well, God has answered us in unexpected and wonderful ways! God spoke to my husband to keep looking for work and not to give up, so he is doing that. Meanwhile, I got a promotion, which will kick in in August, a total gift from God! I never thought much of myself professionally, but God is using me, and I know He is my provider!
Also, we have been evicted from our apartment, which kicks in in 6 weeks, but we have prayed for our landlord, and we will be moving into my graduate seminary’s married housing facilities, which is also a great gift from God revealed to my husband. I have evening classes, so it will allow me to go straight home after class, and be rested and energized. Also the low price includes food, so we will be able to focus on the Lord and our studies, and not struggle so much with the worries of daily life.
Because our faith has grown so much, we have been attacked quite a bit, but thanks to a strong charismatic prayer community, we have been strengthened and enveloped by the love of God. He has won the victory, we just don’t always believe it and proclaim it.
We serve an awesome God, and I am thankful for this step to more simplicity and prayer.
God bless you all on your journeys.
Hi Jessica…I thought of you today regarding your situation and I wanted to know how things were going. Please let us all know how God is moving in your life. I know that something big has either happened or is going to happen. I pray all is well and that your joy is still complete.
My God Jessica, have I got so much to learn from you. What an inspiration you are (especially to someone older like myself). You’re joy is a refeshment to my soul. I wish I only had half of your faith and hope. You truly are God’s chosen. May God richly bless you and your husband daily as you continue to seek his face during your trial. There is no doubt that the Lord will bless you mightily for your faith. As you have not only shown Him but all us women here that you are moving mountains. God Bless!
Thank you all for your prayers. We are truly sisters in Christ. God has been giving us great revelations about our future during these seemingly tough times, so much so that my joy is at its peak! Isn’t it so funny how God persistenly does things the opposite of the world’s way. He gives us hope when it seems foolish. And he uses us in all our weakness to confound the wise. Thank you, sisters, for standing in agreement with us before the Throne of Grace and Mercy.
Jessica, your sharing is such an encouragement to me. Many times I have struggled with trust in God where finances are concerned. I have just prayed in agreement with you that God will open a job for your husband and provide for your needs.
God never fails us – keep trusting Him and you will see His awesome works in your life.
This is so very true. My husband and I have been through a really tough couple of years, but God has been so incredibly faithful through all the turbulence.
Jessica, I’ve been where you are and you’re doing the right thing by trusting in God’s provision. He will make a way even when there doesn’t seem to be any way.
Jessica…WOW, I am so encouraged by your incredible faith. In your situation, I think I would just give in the towel and look to the world. It’s so encouraging to know that you are walking the road of faith and for that I KNOW you will be richly rewarded. God so loves those who have faith in him. Keep the faith Jessica and I stand in agreement with you (Matthew 18:19) when you ask that your husband be blessed with a job and that your finances will once again be at the point of comfort.
This is such a pertinent topic for me. As I write, my husband and I have $30 in the bank, and are overdue on our rent. My husband suggested to take out loans, and asked me what I thought, and I said, “What does God tell us to do?” That settled it for him. We are standing in faith that God will open up a job for him, and that our finances will prosper, along with our level of trust in God, and love, peace and joy. It is really liberating to trust 100% in God, because He is our Father, and if we agree that what we ask for is ours, then it is! Praise Him for the peace in our hearts and in our young marriage.
When I read the submission of ‘struggling’, I was reminded of something God taught me some years ago. We had advertised two kittens to give away. Someone came and got one of them. Later that day she phoned and I thought ‘Oh no, she wants to give it back’. But she was actually phoning to say she would take the other one too. As I told this to a friend who was staying with us, I said, “Why do we always think the worst when the phone rings?” She replied, “Because Satan’s such a liar.”
That stayed with me, and over the years I learned that whenever I had unreasonable fears, I knew they weren’t from God, and I didn’t have to listen to the enemy, so I rejoiced that the opposite was true. Eventually the fears stopped because Satan knew I was on to him and it would only make me stronger.
Hi Vicki,
May I encourage you to ask for a daily filling of the Holy Spirit – the one who molds our heart and makes us sensitive to God’s voice.
Sometimes I use devotional books to accompany my quiet time with God. This also helps give more insight to scripture passages.
Don’t give up! Thirsting for God’s word and drinking in HIs truth is most refreshing!
Charlene
I am finding these comments very encouraging. I am one who has followed the Lord for many years now and as I walked with Him, everything in my life seemed pretty good. My husband and I enjoy good jobs, our health has been relatively good. The Lord has provided for us and we felt very Blessed. It was almost like we are ‘good people’ and we love the Lord. I am supposing now that the Lord is telling us that it is time to see just how much we really TRUST and LOVE Him. In the past two years very serious issues have happened to us. We are beginning to feel like Job. We wonder….did we do something wrong? The answer…of course not!!! Of late, my Trust level has been waivering. I asked God please give me some answers as to which direction to go and to know that He is watching over us. It is absolutely incredible as each day the Bible readings and/or devotionals speak to me as each one makes reference to going through a difficult time, stress, etc. In the end, it is the same suggestion TRUST. It has so encouraged me. We need to Trust God that this will all work out and it will according to HIS PLAN, not mine.
When I read this, I thought wow.. I need to Trust the Lord even when times are Tough. I have Trust issues , But Everytime the Lord as Faithfully helped me and went to bat , know that i think about it. God is so Great. But it’s sad to hear including myself. Christian Talk the Talk alot but only when things look great Walk the Walk.. Well I say come Ladies and Gentlemen of God Let’s Walk the Walk too.., The Lord is so Good. “Who dare go againist me with the Lord on my side”…
Vive La Dolce Vita in Christ
As I read this article, the one thing that keeps popping out to me is love. I know that because of the greatest love of all, Jesus died for me. I still am in awe of this fact and sometimes still can not take in why me and what a failure I am. I struggle to say those words the Lord-that I love Him. I wonder if I do. I was told that it is a relationship process that you work on just as you do with a friend or husband. I have been a christian a long time and feel as if I should be at that point by now. I have a hard time reading my Bible and doing quiet times. It frustrates me so much. I goto church all the time and love it. I love to sing to the Lord and hear the Word taught. I just have a hard time doing it on my own. If anyone can offer help or advice, I am completly open. Thanks so much!
In the past few years, I have endured quite a bit. I have allowed myself to put more trust in people and things than God. The Lord allowed me to go through some tough times just so that I can see that my total trust should be to him. I’m not saying not to trust anyone else, but when that trust puts God in second position, it causes major problems, not to mention He is a jealous God. Trust is still an issue with me. The Lord is still molding and shaping me. This morning’s topic is such a reality for me as I’m in the middle of a divorce, moved into a home of my own, without a vehicle, my 15 year old is in a facility for adolescents with substance abuse issues. Just thinking about it all is very scary and hard to take in. But even through all of that, the Lord constantly reminded me that I need to trust and totally depend on him to get me through it all. Turst me ladies, I’m no superwoman, but I have come to grips with the fact that God is the only one who would never leave me or forsake me nor will He ever let me down. I have found that in the tough times I’m weak, but He is strong.
I hope that this will be a blessing to someone. Keep holding on even in the toughest of times.
I have a fear that I am struggling with – for years. Some days I am trusting, other days the fear overwhelms me and I cannot grasp hold of God’s truth to calm me. It started in early marriage when I couldn’t fall asleep, now I still struggle with it (30 yrs later) – being afraid that I can’t sleep and then I can’t! I wake up in the night and it’s like a knee-jerk reaction and I am up the rest of the night. I am trying to trust and I’ve prayed, I truly seek deliverance from this bondage.
There have been many times that I have been fearful. In the past one of my greatest fears was to speak in public. I have, however, come to realize that when I depend upon God and as I walk hand in hand with Him He will give me the peace and the confidence that I need for that moment. This is only a rather insignificant example, yet it holds true for every situation that we find ourselves in. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart…”