No.2) Trust

When I was younger, I would always want to go on the monkey bars at the park. The only problem is that I was too small to reach the bars and my Dad used to have to lift me up so that I could reach them. Once I was on the monkey bars, I was terrified that my tiny fingers would fail to get a grip around the slippery metallic poles and that I would fall. My Dad would always encourage me- telling me how far I was from the last bar: “only a few more to go”, he say, “you're almost there!”. I was still terrified! But once I'd made it across, I'd be over the moon, wanting to do it all again. I would always be so thrilled at doing it- by shear determination and strength (or so I thought- I must have been very young to be so stupid!). Looking back, it was obvious what was happening: my Dad would be stood there- ready to catch me. Every time I came close to falling, his hands would hold me again and lift me back up.

The thing is, although I knew that my Dad was there and I trusted that I wasn't going to fall, I don't think I really believed it. There was still doubt. 

We often live our lives like that, scared that something bad will happen as we swing from each “monkey bar” of our lives. Knowing that God is there, trusting him sometimes (usually when all is going well!) but not always having complete trust. 

It's very easy for me to say this as I sit here writing this, I have no major problems in my life, and I can say now that I trust God to catch me if I fall but I wonder if I would be the same if say, my family had been killed, my possessions stolen and my health taken away. Job went through much suffering and he must have had a tough time having trust in God. 

Job 13:15 Because even if he killed me, I'd keep on hoping. 

   I'd defend my innocence to the very end.

Just wait, this is going to work out for the best―my salvation! 

The message 

If I had been Job, I think I would've fallen at the first hurdle, not trusted God and try to sort out my problems by myself. We shouldn't get lazy- just asking God to sort out all our problems but he should be our first port of call. It's not hard to send a quick prayer up if something's going wrong. God is an agony aunt, a relationships councillor, a psychiatrist, a career advisor, a financial advisor... well you get the idea! And do you know the best thing? (no, it's not that he's free!) he's your best friend too. He will always be 100% truthful and can help you through your really tough times. 

If you are going through tough times, it is definitely worth talking to God about it- he understands more than anyone what you're going through. Don't be afraid of leaning on God when things go wrong- he is more dependable than anyone!

I'll end with this passage, I know it's corny, but it's still good!

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed He was walking along the beach with the LORD. Across the sky flashed scenes from His life. For each scene He noticed two sets of footprints in the sand. One belonging to Him and the other to the LORD.

When the last scene of His life flashed before Him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of His life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times of His life.

This really bothered Him and He questioned the LORD about it. LORD you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.

The LORD replied, my precious, precious child, I Love you and I would never leave you! During your times of trial and suffering when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you