How is life like a roller coaster? Well, in all actuality it is not. Most often people will describe life in this manner because of the ups and downs we all go through emotionally based upon events that occur everyday. However, those that fully trust God really will not view life in this manner because the fear of what's to come and what has come is overshadowed by the peace God provides through His love and grace. Yet isn't that the hardest part sometimes in a relationship, trusting the other individual with all of your heart.
This post will be simple and to the point. I was blessed to hear these words myself, and I hope they resound in your mind and stay with you long after you hear them. Pastor Steve Richards (Smokey Point Comm. Church) made the following points when it comes to trusting Christ:
-The only way the journey of trust begins is if we surrender everything to Him!
-You will never know God enough to trust Him unless you are ready to truly surrender all aspects of your life to Him.
-God is the source of wisdom and the source of all knowledge.
So what can we all take away from this? There will come a time when you must settle up with Christ and trust in Him with all of your heart. God doesn't always have to break us in order to accept His grace and the sacrifice of His son dying on the cross for our sins. For those of us that have already accepted Him into our lives, give God all of your trust just as you gave it all the day you asked Him into your life. This is where I struggle the most in my relationship with Him. It's not about being the person I know I should be, it's about being the son I know God wants me to be.
Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Mike: You are not alone in wondering if God hears our cry. Trusting God is easy when things are going great, but what about when our ship is sinking - do we cry out like the disciples, "Do you care?" With such a merciful God, He knows our doubts and still loves us - that's what is so amazing about grace! Reminds me of a story I read in Rick Renner's book about his missionary time in Russia. Rick undertook building a church in Moscow, but it was going to cost millions to build because the soil was spongy & had to be dug up, trucked away & then replaced before a solid foundation could be built. Rick said every day some worker would come to him & say "we need $50,000 in two days" and the pressure was getting to him trying to trust God for the funds. Also, the Russian government had given him a set amount of months to get the church finished AND occupied, or they could claim it as government property. One night, Rick said he was so overwhelmed with the dread that the next day he would need $100,000 & didn't know where it would come from, that he couldn't sleep. He got out of bed, went downstairs & kneeled to pray, Dispair overtook him and he started sobbing his heart out to God. He felt a hand on his shoulder, and he said, "Jesus"? "No, Dad, it's me" (his 9 yr. old son replied) "What in the world is the matter?" Rick said he felt bad when he admitted to his son that he had lost his faith in God providing the building funds."Oh, Dad, you know God has never let you down. Let's go to bed." So, Rick felt 6 inches tall and went w/his son to bed. The next day he got a call from the US. It was Gloria Copeland wanting to tell him that God wanted her to send him a $100,000 check & that it was already in the mail. What an awesome God we serve!!
ReplyDeleteA very inspiring story of faith. Thank you.......
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