Trusting God in the Senseless
Yesterday I blogged about the times when we MUST trust! We have a host of reasons to have a problem with trusting, especially when it comes to relationships and our heart gets broken or when dreams crush or our dream vacation turns into a nightmare or when we’re let down by a sickness reoccurrence.
We have proof of those who weathered their crisis by trusting in God’s promises and Word and came out stronger than ever before. Their test became their testimony and their mess became a message that others witnessed and they, too, learned to trust.
I am embracing this tender, sweet atmosphere of Christmas in the tiny home (called “The Love Cabin”) here at Epiphany Ranch in East Texas. There is a cozy electric fireplace to add to the warmth of the Comfort Star wall heaters. The only “issue” here is it is 12 degrees outside AND inside, the pipes are frozen. So I get to heat water (from bottled water) on the stove to “bathe”. AND, use bottled water (heated from the stove) to put in the toilet to flush it! HOW can this be? My picture perfect Christmas isn’t all that perfect.
On the other hand, my daughter, her husband, their son and daughter are as snug as bugs in a rug in their “Miracle Mountain” cabin. Lest I sound like I am complaining, oh, no I am not! I have a blog I GET TO write about TRUST! All I have to do is take myself to those who don’t have the privilege of a warm cabin. Joseph walked and Mary traveled on a donkey to Bethlehem. And, Lord have mercy! She gave birth in a stable!
I think about the treasured figurine of “The Holy Family” I have at home on my end table. It was a gift to us by a dear friend on the occasion of re-saying our marriage vows at Christmas. It is a picture of what it looked like for them. How could I complain about inconvenience?
I start to ponder the unimaginable trust found in the Christmas Story. It’s a true story that boggles our minds. It seems senseless! This true story is unparalleled in trust. God invited people from different stations in life to become a part of history. The lowly, outcast shepherds. An unmarried, innocent girl. An expectant husband-to-be. Well-educated men from another country.
All of those characters had to draw upon some new level of trust and belief to become part of the “Chronicles of Bethlehem”. Each person had to rely on an inner sense of conviction. What they saw, how they reacted, and what they did, demanded an internal “knowing” that trust was the best choice, God’s choice.
Think about trust in the roles those characters played: Mary had to believe the angel of God when he appeared to her. She chose to say “Yes” to his message. Joseph believed that God spoke to him in a dream. Mary had to trust and rely on Joseph for leadership and direction. They leaned on one another for support as God continued to “direct their steps” (Proverbs 3:5,6).
Now, here’s the “Chronicles of Epiphany Ranch in Alto, TX” or Austin or whatever town you and I are in today, God is writing our story. What about our stories? Right now you might be right in the middle of trying to find your way through this chilling weather with a generator because your electricity is out or YOUR pipes are frozen. Or, it might be in business, in relationships, or in your health. Trust STILL keeps us steadfast and immoveable. Trust is our complete reliance on the character, ability, strength, and truth of God and His Word.
It is simply the confidence that we place in “our all-sufficient One”. That is the trust that God wants His children to have in Him. May we trust God implicitly, then trust our sovereign God to be in the people and in the situations of our lives.
P.S. Shortly after I wrote this blog, the electricity in all of our homes here at Epiphany Ranch went off. But here we are three hours later, electricity restored. Now I’m praying for the pipes to unfreeze. I would sure appreciate a warm shower! I have a new appreciation for those who made it through these times in the centuries before this one. What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger! Thanks be to God!