Trusting Him and ignoring my feelings…

Note to readers: Every now and then my posts have typos or worse — like convoluted sentences that make no sense. They usually happen when I make a late evening post and am half asleep. My hubby notices them the next morning but too late for those who read them early in the day. So sorry! If that happens, please go back and read again as they do get corrected and I want to be clear rather than confusing!

I wish that I had read today’s devotional at least a day ago — I might not have been so anxious about the meeting yesterday! The devotional writer reminded her readers that God’s people learn that God is enough. Funny how your head can tell you that but fears and other emotions and experiences scream otherwise. The Bible says, “God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” (2 Timothy 1:7) I should not let fear happen, but it did.

A good example for me is Job. He was in great trials and overwhelmed by lack of understanding. Why was God allowing all this loss and sorrow? Why did He not give comfort and assurance up front? Like Job, I was trusting God, yet not feeling the delight that goes with that trust. Job complained a great deal, however he did say this remarkable truth:

Though he slay me, I will hope in him; yet I will argue my ways to his face. (Job 13:15)

Other versions say, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust him.” That was my thinking. This meeting could be a total disaster. I had a key role in it but feared no one would listen to me. But I was trusting God anyway, no matter what happened. The hard part was no joy in that trust — at least not until the day was over and He surprised me with the others who gave support for my thoughts and showed rejection of ideas contrary to sound practices. I did not expect such unity.

The devotional writer also points to David who said:

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23:4–6)

Did David write this before, during, or after his trials and the experience of God’s comfort? I don’t know Hebrew so cannot determine the verb tenses. However, in English this reads that David’s trust was based on both faith and experience. He knew he could trust God in the present and the future because of God’s past faithfulness. I should be more like David. He also said:

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah (Psalm 46:1–3)

The NT says such faith comes by hearing — hearing the Word of God. I need to also be in the Scriptures more than I am, reading Psalms more often would be helpful.

Yet meditation is vital too. I’d recently read this NT passage and failed to apply it to my fears about yesterday’s meeting:

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:31–39)

PRAY: Lord God, my spiritual maturity has a long way to go to match my physical age. Yet age is not the issue. I need to think all the time that You are enough. No matter the trials and challenges, You do not fail. I can trust You to take care of all issues, no matter how huge or impossible they might seem to me. You will honor Your Word take care of me, just as You have promised.