To trust is to demonstrate a firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something. Whole relationships are built on trusting another person, believing that they wouldn’t do anything to hurt you. We trust in certain things, that our car will start in the morning and that our grocery store will always have food for us to buy. We trust that when we go to the doctor, we’ll have good news. So, when that person you wholeheartedly trusted betrays you, the sting is real. When you show up at Trader Joe’s and the shelves are empty, you worry. When your tire that was perfectly fine the night before is deflated in the morning, you become frustrated. When you receive word from your child’s doctor that their spine isn’t lining up the way it should, the pit of your stomach instantly fills with dread. We cannot always trust in people or things, but Preacher Girl there IS one person we can ALWAYS put our full confidence in, and that is our Jesus.
His Word tells us to trust in Him. When He called the disciples to follow Him, He expected their full trust. When Peter stepped out on the waves, he trusted that Jesus would order his steps on the water. When Paul’s ministry was full of persecution, he trusted the Savior who had commissioned him. Trust is a verb, it’s something you do, not something you have. Sometimes, you can’t see how you’re going to get through what you’re going through but know that you can still trust Jesus. The worst mistake you can make is putting your trust in someone other than Jesus! If you’ve ever put your confidence in a place or a person that has let you down, you’re not alone. We are human and we invest our trust in foolish things. But if you are in Jesus, PG, you cannot lose.
You can trust Jesus, whole heartedly and without reservation. Specifically, He wants you to trust Him in three ways. First, trust that Yeshua will precede you wherever He leads you.
Let’s say God puts a burden on your heart to begin a Bible study group specifically for working moms. You have no idea how you’re going to start; you don’t feel qualified. You may feel you don’t have the resources or the time. You think about how the group might take attention away from your family, job, and personal time. A million thoughts and excuses have run through your head before you’ve even taken a step to begin. But hear this PG, wherever He told you to go, He’s already there. You see God doesn’t push. Instead, He leads. When Peter stepped out of the boat, Jesus was already there. He told Peter to “Come.” Wherever you feel the Lord is sending you, know that He is in fact leading you there. He's already there because He won’t take you someplace that He hasn’t already gone.
Second, you can trust that He will save you from hurting yourself and others. Most new Christians invariably have questions about what they can and can’t do in their newfound faith. In fact, most people DON’T want to be a Christian because of what they feel they must give up. They’re enjoying their current lifestyle and say, “well if I become a Christian, I won’t be able to drink and smoke anymore. I won’t be able to sleep around.” Hear this PG, those things they aren’t willing to give up are things that could destroy them! Alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and other substances hurt our bodies, sometimes to the point of death. Sexual immorality? If you sleep around and end up getting an STD, you’re hurting yourself. If you’re sleeping with someone who isn’t your spouse, you’re hurting everyone involved in the various relationships. So, if coming to Christ will make you turn away from these things that are harmful, then know that He is saving you from hurting yourself and others.
Third, trust Jesus to save you and your whole family. Our unsaved family members are often on our prayer requests. We don’t want to see the people we love not go to heaven. But truth be told, we might have given up on praying for some of them to get saved. That uncle who threw your family out of his house, that sister who stole your laptop, that mom who beat you because you left yet another umbrella on the school bus? You love these people despite what they’ve done but we think because of what they’ve done, there’s no way God could save them. We gave up on praying for them because we think it’s a hopeless cause. I’m here to tell you today PG that you can trust Him and once you trust Him, He will save you and your entire house. God’s will is that none should perish, but that all should come to the knowledge of God through His Son Jesus Christ.
So today PG, know that you can trust God. Trust Him to go before you, trust Him to keep you from harm, and trust Him to save you and your family. It is still so sweet to trust in Jesus. Take Him at His Word because He is the only One who will not fail you. He is King Jesus and He is faithful. Whatever the circumstance, just say “I trust Him in this.”