Trust in God with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
Growing up, my family took road trips. Often we would return home at night. As an 8 year old, I never doubted that Dad had enough money to buy gas. I never doubted he knew where we were going.
I had complete and total trust. Not a hint of doubt. Just simple trust that Dad had it handled.
If we could free ourselves from insisting on answers from God, second-guessing the route He has chosen or being on hyperalert to make sense of these dark days, we would discover that the essence of biblical faith lies in trusting God.
For many of us, we’re on a road trip and it’s dark... And either God is at the wheel or we think we are.
“Craving clarity, we attempt to eliminate the risk of trusting God. Fear (or doubt) of the unknown path stretching ahead of us destroys childlike trust in the Father’s active goodness and unrestricted love.” -- Brennan Manning in Ruthless Trust: The Ragamuffin’s Path to God (Page 6)
Ruthless Trust:
It is ”When all else is unclear, the heart of trust says ‘Into Your hands, I commit my spirit’ Luke 23:46. (Ibid Page 6)
It “is the defining spirit of authentic discipleship” -- of being a follower of Jesus.” (Ibid Page 4)
It is in the midst of tragic events that leave us bereft of understanding. Trust does not demand explanations, but turns to the One who promised, “I will not leave you as orphans.” (John 14:18a NASB)
It is a decisive conversion from mistrust to trust which must be renewed daily -- moment by moment. It becomes an acquired lifestyle.
Growing Trust:
...this kind of trust is acquired only gradually and most often through a series of crises and trials” which is called “life.” (Ibid Page 9) “In order to grow in trust, we must allow God to love us precisely as we are (warts, secret sins, and all) (not as we want to be or were told we should be)”. (Ibid Page 16)
Trust is the remedy for our addiction to clarity about what’s next. The antidote for parent’s fearful hearts for our kids., The elixir for whatever it is that keeps us awake at night.
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Pray
Help me learn to trust in You throughout the darkness of my illness, divorce, under or unemployment, aging body, shame, and regrets. God the list is seemingly endless.
Help me trust You have it handled and resist pushing You out of the way so I can drive the car. Help me banish any and every thought of doubt. Teach me the way of ruthless trust. Break me of the habit of thinking it’s all up to me. Help me know You better -- not simply know about You -- but know and enjoy You.
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