"Those who know your name will trust in you,
for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you."
- Psalm 9:10
Ok so lately I've been reading Crazy Love by: Francis Chan, and I know most people just fly right through it because it's SUCH an amazing book, but I'm trying to force myself to take my time and really soak it up. Anyways, the other day I read this part about trusting God. I know we here that all the time, there's so many sermons and stories of God's provision. But have you ever really thought about it?
Just think about examples, like Abraham, He trusted God with the life of his son Isaac, whom he'd waited so many years for before God fulfilled his promise. He trusted Him enough to take him to a mountain to sacrifice to the Lord. I wish I could say that I would be able to do the same but when I honestly think about it I know I'm too selfish.. But, God didn't let Abraham down, He stopped Him from killing Isaac and saved good ol' Abe from looking insane.
Think of Noah and his ark, Noah spent years upon years building the ark God asked him to build for the flood. Everyone thought he was crazy and persecuted him but Noah stuck with it, and in the end who survived? exactly.
Let's move onto Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They went into a FURNACE, because they had faith that the Lord could save them. Keep in mind that this furnace was hotter than anything you and I have ever felt. The guards who threw them into the furnace died from the heat as they threw them in.. In the words of Paris Hilton, That's Hot. But in all seriousness that's some strong trust. To willingly be thrown into what should be certain death with that much faith.. But again God pulled through and saved them, leading the King to believe in their God.
Francis however points out the "what if"s. What if God hadn't stopped Abraham? What if God hadn't sent the flood? What if God had let Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego burn? Well for starters Abraham would look like a completely psycho murderer and would have to somehow cope with burying his dead son who died at his hand. Noah would be mocked and disgraced, and the three boys would die and the king and his followers would be much less likely to ever know God. But, God DIDN'T let them down. When you put your faith in Him He will never ever let you down. How awesome is that?
"In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame."
- Psalm 22:4-5
Another question Francis proposed was "What are you doing right now that requires faith?" I took this question very literally and started thinking of anything I might be doing that was seriously requiring faith. Let me tell you it wasn't near enough. All I could come up with was my unset future, that terrifies me you guys. I know in my heart that I'm being called to church counseling, but I know nothing about it. I don't have a clue where I'm going for the first time in my life and I'm horrifically excited. But I'm not gonna lie and say "Oh yea I have no worries at all I know God's got me!" I mean, I know He's got me and won't let me fail at what He's calling me to do, but it's so hard not to worry about it. So that's what I'm working on..
This, "What are you doing right now that requires faith?" question made such an impact on me that I texted it to Tyler, his immediate response was "Breathing." Wow.. I never even thought of it that way, and I know that this might be a scatter brained blog tonight but I'm just so excited about it! Breathing. Do you realize how complicated the human anatomy is? It's miraculous that we even function at all. All of the tiny things that have to go right for you to live are astounding. Francis Chan actually talks about that in one of the first few chapters but it had slipped my mind until Tyler said that. BREATHING! God orders every single breath you take, He knows every beat that your heart is making to keep every blood cell of your body on task. If He wanted He could stop it all, we are completely at His mercy. I'm not trying to be scary, our God is such a compassionate merciful God, especially considering the way we treat Him. I mean gracious my life verse is Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" I know I've blogged about that one but it clearly states that He wants the best for us. It's in writing people. Why is it so hard for us to just let go and trust Him completely?
Like Jake said this Sunday in His sermon, why do we keep our little red wagon of things God isn't aloud to have? It doesn't even have to be "big sins" like some people would call it, God HATES sin, no matter how great or how small. Worry is a sin. How odd does that seem to a nation that is filled with worry? But it's true, the only option is to trust Him entirely. He won't let us fall.
This week let's just try it, just "sample it" if you will, let go and just trust fall into His arms. I'll be praying for all of you this week to trust in Him and for Him to show you something amazing in return. This doesn't exclude myself, I can't wait to see what He shows me this week as I free fall into Him. :)
"Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in Him."
-Psalm 32:10
