belief, choosing, faith, fear, grief, new, Trust

Friday Faith/Trust

Update on puppy: He slept in his crate last night. Lauren took the midnight shift potty-break. I took the 5am. The cat is still spooked, but no longer looks like she is going to eat him. Drew is still breathing. But the pup has no name; nothing has fit yet.

I’m still a little shocked at this scenario. And thankful.

Maybe I needed a distraction, a balance of sorts. Maybe God wanted me to keep my heart at home, nurturing, giving, protecting. Maybe.

 

I believe nothing happens by chance or circumstance. Though I know God is much more–so much larger than an old man playing chess in the sky, He somehow knows the number of hairs on our heads and the perfect time for something new in our lives.

Faith=Trust.

I’ve been chewing on faith again lately. Pondering the definition as it has played out in my life through the years. The Complete Jewish Bible translates the words “believe” and “faith” used in other Bible translations to the word “trust.” I like the word “trust” much better because I can believe in something and have faith in someone without trusting that person. Let me explain: I can have faith that said person will fail. In the same way I can believe in God but not be secure that God is really good.

But trusting takes it to a whole different level. If I trust someone, I am persuaded that person will act in the best way for me. So I have to stand in my trust with God. No matter what…

Two years ago this June my heart was ripped apart as I watched my best friend, my last piece of home, my big sister lose her battle with cancer. As awful as that was, it brought me to a new level of choosing to trust in the goodness of God because I just couldn’t live anywhere else. Can any of us live, truly live, without trusting Him?

How’s your trust level with the God who created you in your mother’s womb? Are you just at the point of belief or has it begun to move toward the point of trust? It takes time. It takes prayer, asking for a greater measure of trust. And it often takes choosing to trust even when nothing makes sense; the timing seems off, and your heart is shredded with grief or fear.

There’s some “learning to trust” going on in my house this week. Nothing like what I walked through two years ago, but I’m still learning to trust His goodness in all situations. And I think my cat is too.

Much grace,
andy

For this reason, I fall on my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth receives its character. I pray that from the treasures of His glory He will empower you with inner strength by His Spirit, so that the Messiah may live in your hearts through your trusting…(Eph. 3:14-16, The Complete Jewish Bible).

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