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Trust means realizing that just because something looks good does not mean it is good
Trust means realizing that just because something looks good does not mean it is good
It’s the fish and the lure, the mouse and the cheese, the deer and the corn feeder- looks good but the end result is not so good. In fact, it was the exact opposite.
Friends, our ideas of what is good for us are extremely tainted by our sin, our selfishness, and our lack of wisdom. That is why our Scripture today tells us not to lean on our understanding, because our understanding is limited and God knows all. I don’t know about you, but I have applied for a few jobs in my life that I really wanted in the moment, and was disappointed when God said no, but a few months later I was glad it didn’t go the way I wanted.
If you are like me you have had a similar conversation with your kids. You go out somewhere and their eyes are caught by one of those overpriced, under engineered, frail toys that cost way too much money for something that is going to break within 5 minutes of purchase. You know it is piece of junk that is only going to let the down; but all they see is bright colors, or flashy lights, and they want it! They want it for what they see in the moment and you don’t want it because of what you know will happen in the end.
This exactly why God tells us to not “lean on our own understanding” many times we are the kid in the story, we do not understand all there is to know. We do not know how the story ends, but God does.
Trust means believing that whatever happens is in God’s plan.
Trust means believing that whatever happens is in God’s plan.
The Bible tells us that God has a plan for our lives. God has a will and a desire for every person he has ever created. There has never been a person who walked the Earth that has done so without God willing it, and God having a plan for that person. The challenge is, of course, that not everyone who walks this Earth submits to God’s plan and God’s will. Their steps lead to destruction and pain because they are not taking into account what God wants for them. Either out of defiance or ignorance these people live with no regard to what God wants for them.
But for those of us who do seek the Lord and by his grace we attempt to walk in his will and desire for us we have a promise. This promise is given across the Scriptures, but one of the most direct references to it comes from Psalm 37:23 “The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way;”
Trusting God means that we believe in God’s sovereign will, even when it runs against our will. Let’s face it, no one likes to be told no. When we are denied a desire it can trigger a lot of feelings in us, and many times it can anger us or discourage us. Trust me, I worked in Food service as teen and a young adult and I can tell you some stories about people losing their cool over some really petty and ridiculous things simply because they were told no.
Anyone who has followed Jesus for more than a short time can tell you that God is not just a magic genie or a cosmic yes man. God is God and there are times in his wisdom he tell us no.
Trust means believing if something does not happen immediately; God’s timing is better.
Trust means believing if something does not happen immediately; God’s timing is better.
If you write notes during church- get ready to write this one day because it’s huge- just because something is a crisis to you does not mean it is a crisis to God- trust his time. I know, it is hard- especially in our instant society.
Any of you ever worked on a car, or started building a piece of furniture and jump ahead of the directions just to find our a few steps later there was a reason that you were not supposed to do that step yet? That happened to me a few weeks ago while I was working on my tractor. I took a piece loose while I was under it because I did not want to squeeze into the spot again, just to find out that I needed that piece to be in place to remove another part.
Also, trusting God’s timing also means not needing to know when. If you are like me, I really like knowing when I can expect something to happen. If someone says “I will do that by Friday” it gives me a lot more peace that “I will do it sometime.” Manage my expectations, help me know what is happening; tell me what I am looking for. Trouble is, God does not work that way most of the time.
It sure would be nice to know though. When I went to visit Jean in the Hospital it would have been amazing to say “well, Jean, God says you are going home on Friday.” But God did not give that kind of timeline
God has a reason that it has not happened yet- our task is to trust and ask him what we need to learn in the waiting.
Lamentations 3:25–26 “The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.”
Trust means knowing God.
Trust means knowing God.
Sometimes I think the English translation of these verses do not do justice to the original text. Specifically in v6 when it says in all your ways acknowledge him. Now, when I think about acknowledging something can I tell you what I think of? I think of a cowboy in a big cowboy hat tipping it at a lady and saying “mam” He sees her, he lets her know he has seen her, and he moves on. I can acknowledge something and it not change a thing about what I am doing.
But that is not the Hebrew word here; the word is yadah (yah-daaa) and it means to learn to know intimately.
Charles Spurgeon writes:
"There is One who cares for you. His eye is fixed on you, His heart beats with pity for your woe, and His omnipotent hand shall bring you the needed help. The darkest cloud shall scatter itself in showers of mercy. He, if you are one of His family, will bind up your wounds and heal your broken heart. Do not doubt His grace because of your tribulation, but believe that He loves you as much in seasons of trouble as in times of happiness. If God cares for you, why do you need to care too? Can you trust Him for your soul and not your body? He has never refused to bear your burdens; He has never fainted under their weight. Come, then, soul! Say good-bye to anxiety and leave all your concerns in the hand of a gracious God