Are we fully trusting in the Lord? If we were, wouldn’t we rest in His shelter?
Why is it that we find ourselves, again and again, racking our brains looking for solutions? We will mull over a problem, whether it is our problem or someone else’s trying to think of ways that WE can fix whatever is wrong.
Isaiah 59 : 1 (KJV)
Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
He can still reach out. He can still hear our cries. He wants to hear from us! He wants to help, but why should He help while we are busy fixing the problem ourselves? Why not let us fail first, so that we will seek His assistance?
If we are struggling with something, we need only seek His counsel by praying and reading the Word of God. If a friend or loved one is struggling, we can pray a prayer of intercession. And, If we think, that just possibly God is nudging us to do something, we should pray some more before we take matters in our own hands.
Sometimes our pride wants to be satisfied that we were the one able to solve the problem. We want that sense of accomplishment. We want to be proud of ourselves. God is not going to use us for squat when we are arrogant and prideful. He uses the weak things of this world to confound the mighty;. He brings the proud low.
1 Corinthians 1 : 27 (KJV)
But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
Proverbs 29 : 23 (KJV)
A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.
The next time we take the reins before consulting the Lord, we should consider our motives. And then we should humbly ask Him if it is His will for us to do something more. I’m not advocating laziness in anyway or neglecting the poor and needy. Yes, we are supposed to work and we are supposed to help people. That isn’t the kind of thing we are talking about. Sometimes, someone is hungry and, yes, we should give them bread. Or thirsty, and, yes, we should give them water.
This is something different entirely. Here are two simple examples:
Your friend is having marriage problems and instead of suggesting prayer, you try to arrange for the couple to have a romantic weekend alone together, because that should “fix” the problem. What you may not understand is that the problem isn’t a lack of time together, it may be something entirely different. God knows what they need. You don’t.
Or you and your husband are having trouble, so you purposely get pregnant to “make him stay and work on your relationship.” God knows the man’s heart. He may see what you are missing. It might be that he needs more time alone with God, but by you fixing things, you just caused him to be busier and have even less time with God. The result is messy.
Do you see what I’m getting at? It’s not that we shouldn’t do anything, but that we should make decisions wisely and seek God’s counsel. We shouldn’t make ourselves the god of our own life. We have to watch that we are not trying to control every little thing in our own lives and the lives of those around us.
Sometimes waiting on the Lord is the answer.
Isaiah 40:31 (KJV)
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary;and they shall walk, and not faint.
He didn’t forget about us. Let’s trust Him. We sing the songs, but do we believe the words, “Trust and obey, there’s no other way“ and “Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus”?
Let’s briefly touch on obedience while we discussing this song. One would think that obedience was a dirty word the way people cower from it these days. Yet, it is sprinkled throughout God’s word. It’s something He wants from us. I know, I know. We are under grace, not under the law. True, true. Praise the Lord for that! However, if we have read His words, we know what He wants us to do. Jesus said: “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14 : 15)
We are told to obey them that have the rule over us (Romans 13 : 1 and Titus 3 : 1), children are told to obey their parents (Colossians 3 : 20), and servants to obey their masters (Colossians 3 : 22). Notice these verses are from the Pauline epistles. We, as saved Christians, still have to be in obedience. It isn’t a salvation issue, but it is a happiness issue.
There is a lot of truth in that song. Trust and obey for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus than to trust and obey. Let’s close with one more verse.
Psalms 37 : 40 (KJV)
And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.
What are your thoughts on trust and obedience? Share them in the comments.
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Elle E. Kay shares her thoughts on trusting the Lord.
