Trusting God Even If
This topic is one that the Lord has put heavy on my heart: Trusting ain’t easy! It can be easier to say, “That’s just our luck,” and have this lackluster or “pity me” attitude about what is happening in your life. Even worse, blindly trusting that only good things will happen in your life and you will reap from the rewards that you have not earned. Trust is something that is earned and requires to be worked on continuously. As Christians, often times our prayers can be for immediate healing or for landing a new job offer that will financially benefit your family and then some. That if we rub this lamp, God will grant our wishes and our heart’s desires! In that skewed view of Godly trust, we have this misunderstanding that we trust God to only do the things that would benefit us, solve all of our problems, or what we want to happen for others according to our plan. If God answered our prayers according to our will’s, could you imagine what the world would be like?
We should trust the Lord not for an outcome, but regardless of an outcome.
When we truly put our trust in God, we are praying in faith that He is powerful and strong enough to answer our prayers according to His will regardless of the outcome. We need to trust that even if He doesn’t do that or even brings a good thing to an end, His plans are greater and He has a greater purpose for us. Isaiah 55:9 says that His ways and thoughts are higher than our own. We can’t comprehend His ways and thoughts. God can do anything. Proverbs 3:5 says when we lean away from our own understanding and lean into God’s word, we are leaning away from a worldly perspective and leaning into a spiritual perspective, thus building trust. He is going to use that justification to sanctify you and grow you in His-likeness. He will use it to grow you in your faith and in your walk with the Lord. Romans 8:28 says not that all things will be good, but all things will work together for good. This is not an earthly good, it’s a spiritual good. Yes, sometimes there are worldly, good things that happen, but His plans and outcomes are always focused on spiritual good. He is greater. His thoughts and plans are higher. God must become higher and we must become lesser (John 3:30 NLT).
One thing I’ve learned (and it’s a hot one) is that the closer you are to God, the more you seek God, and the more you live like God, the more that the enemy and the world will attack. If you feel like you’ve won, then you have more than likely blindly accepted worldly desires, fleshly desires, sin, and the devil into your life. Put on the armor of God and fill yourself with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 6:10-12 NLT).
What do you do when God doesn’t answer your prayers according to your plans? See my blog post about ‘God’s Planned Delays” about seeking God in seasons of waiting.
Be a light + stay salty!
Talk soon!
Other Bible verses to soak in:
Isaiah 55:9 (NLT) says, “For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts.”
Romans 8:28 (NLT) says, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT) says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.”
Ephesians 6:10-12 (NLT) says, “A final word: be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”
John 3:30 (NLT) says, “He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.”
Songs to praise Him in:
“Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)” by Hillsong UNITED
