Trust in the Lord: Not in the Ebbs and Flows of Earthly Hopes

Life can be so uncertain can it not? High today, low tomorrow can keep us on a rollercoaster throughout all of life. When we are walking through troubles and afflictions in our deepest valley’s or when we are on our highest mountaintops experiencing life at its best - in both extremes and in all between - it is crucial that we learn the necessity of living and walking by faith. For what do we have that we did not receive? There is nothing chance or happenstance in this life. And our God is a God of order, not chaos. There is purpose in all allowed, and His purposes are good – always good. Further, what He does allow – whether perceived “bad” or “good” always carries with it - for His heirs of mercy - our very best interest at heart. Remember as well, the very breath that we breathe is a gift from His Hand. All that comes to us is sifted first by His grace and mercy whether we can understand that fully or not.  

If you are His child, all things allowed are working for our good and His glory never one surpassing the other. And He is to be the sole object of our trust - not ourselves or anything else. He is our Rock of Refuge, our Shadow - under which His wings we may find rest and repose. If we place our trust in earthly people, places or things they easily become an idol and are as secure as a spider’s web. Created “props” are unable to bear the weight of an immortal soul. It is building our house on sand rather than the Rock. We cannot trust in both God and anyone or anything – even our own hearts - as Scriptures tells us in Jeremiah 17:9-10 (NIV): “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? ‘I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.’”

We presently see such a poor reflection as in looking in a bad mirror – but God sees “face to face”. We know in part, but He knows fully and He can be fully trusted. We are but clay and vanity at best. All the saints found on stable, unshaking ground have placed their trust in Him. In everything we discover – looking without and within – our search teaches us to place the arms of our trust in the mighty Hands of God. He is our refuge and strength – a very present help in our times of trouble. Call on Him in sincerity of heart and He will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things that you do not know, Scripture tells us. We are not to lean on our own understanding rather acknowledge Him in all our ways and He will make our paths straight.