What a promise! The Lord promises perfect peace to those who steadfastly—unwaveringly, faithfully, consistently—trust in him. Those who trust in the Lord and do not lean on their own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6) will experience calmness from above. Those who lift out their requests to God, trusting that he will listen and provide for our needs, will experience peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:6-7). Those who lack wisdom and cry out to God, believing that he is the source of all wisdom, will understand the source of grace our Heavenly Father is (James 1:5).
The promise is perfect peace; the condition is if we trust him.
Why can it be hard to trust God? For me, there are a variety of reasons: 1) I tend to quickly trust myself—my knowledge, experience, and gifts—instead of God, 2) I tend to trust others (especially people I respect) instead of God, who is the source of their wisdom and gifts, and 3) I do not directly see God or hear God’s voice, like I do with other people in my life. What about you? Why do you find it hard to trust God?
Despite our wavering hearts, God never changes and he is so worthy of our trust. Have you ever thought about why can we trust God? Think about his attributes. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, holy, just, and loving. He has always existed, always will exist, and never changes. Think about his actions. He created the world, made a covenant with the nation of Israel, sent Jesus to die on the cross for our sins, forgives us time and time again, sent the Holy Spirit as a guide for us, and much more.
God has given us Scripture to guide us, encourage us, correct us, and inspire us to trust him. Read the Old Testament stories, and watch for God’s faithfulness to countless individuals and to the nation of Israel. Read the gospels and see the amazing life and death of Jesus Christ, and see God’s love for each of us. Read the book of Acts to see God’s hand in the early church, especially in the life of Peter and Paul, and understand God’s faithfulness to Christians.
Feed your heart and mind with the promises of God, and learn to trust him more. Think deeply about the character of God, and understand why he is worthy of our trust. In the end, you will experience the perfect peace that results from steadfast trust in God.
No comments :
Post a Comment