"Trust In The Lord"

We read from God's word, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding." (Prov. 3:5) Many of us quote this from time to time but do we really trust with all our heart? How many times do we find ourselves reasoning through this or that and draw a conclusion to act on our own? Many times we find ourselves wanting to control outcomes in our lives or the lives of others. I know I have been guilty of doing that. We say the words but live like the Lord can do little in situations or act like we know the situation and need better than He!

Jacob, who was blessed by God, got himself into more difficulties by taking matters into his own hand. As a result of his own doings, he had to flee from Esau and his home (Gen. 27:41-45). In the end, it cost Jacob twenty years of his life! Some of the years went quickly (Gen. 29:20) but nonetheless, it cost him and created many more obstacles. It cost him labor under Laban. In the end, the Lord revealed that all of Jacob's efforts gained him nothing but it was all through the grace of God. God revealed to Israel that all they were given was nothing by their hands but by His own power and grace (Deut. 6:10-12). Their own doing cost them 40 years of wandering the wilderness and God had to work things out to bring back the faithful.

What about us? How many times do we manipulate or pry into things that we should completely leave in the hands of God? We know that but the bottom line is we simply do not trust the Lord with all our heart. Circumstances spring up beyond our control and yet we try to control them. We say a word when we should be silent. We take a bad attitude toward a situation when the situation should be to make us rely and trust in the Lord, so we learn little. We express our thought freely thinking they will determine the outcome in our favor. In the end, it costs us dearly! Things the Lord could have handled in a much better way and knew the answer and desired outcome cost us years as well as destroying relationships! We push things back because of our lack of trust. When will we learn? How many movements are started by hate? How many programs are from our own selfish ideas while we think they are the best ever only to watch them fail? How many things have we attempted to do only to quit? WE TRY TO CONTROL TOO MUCH!!!

The Psalmist was right: "Cease striving and know that I am God; for I will be exalted among the nations, and I will be exalted in the earth." We need to be serious about our trust in the Lord and put our heart into Him rather than our tongues, thoughts and actions! Let's be honest...