Hey friends, how are you today? Happy 1^st day of July, friends.  How have you been? What have you been up to, these past six months? Can you believe it? We have already lived six months into the new year.  Some of us have made and are living out our new reality.  Some of us are still waiting for the changes we want to make to actually take place.   Some of us are content and would really appreciate no more changes, especially as we are just now adapting to our new normal.  

Sometimes, don’t you just wish our Lord would share the future with us? There are days when I would like Him to do just that.   “Tell me, Lord, tell me what does my future hold?”  “What’s going to happen next, Father?”  There are days when I’ve asked Him these very questions.  The only reply I’ve heard and lately, it’s been just a teeny, tiny bit of a shout, “Trust me, Brenda”.

“Trust Me”.  I admit this is harder to exercise, than I first thought it would be.  Every time I’ve successfully crossed a hurdle, I think I’ve accomplished that goal.  Until the next time.  It’s easier to see what I shoulda, coulda, woulda do, if I had known that or remembered this. Now if I knew what the future held, I would be better prepared, I tell the Lord.  But then, there would be no need for trust, He reminds me.  “Trust Me, Brenda”, He whispers.

Trust – According to the Miriam-Webster dictionary, trust is defined in this manner: (it is the) firm belief in the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something. This definition implies I must know the one in whom I’ve place my trust. Trust can be a rather fickle companion, I’ve found.  Before this current vehicle, I drove an older  Volvo that served our family very well.  I trusted this car to take us from one place to another.  But one day while driving, it suddenly lost power and died and then began to give one problem after another.  Needless to say, I lost faith that this car would continue to do its job.  “Trust Me, Brenda”, the Lord reminds me. 

We get on planes and expect it to take us safely to our destination, although that hasn’t been the story of countless people.  We place our trust in friends and family, although more often than not, they’ve proven they can be trusted to do so much and no more. (Just like us.). Yet for many of us, trust in our Lord, remains an illusive action. “Trust Me, Brenda”.  

In order to trust someone, I must take the time to know that someone.  In order to trust someone, that person has to prove they are worthy of my trust.  The Bible is the written Word of God that tells everything we need to know about Him.  He wants us to know Him.  

He desires that anything that remains a mystery is not used as an excuse.  With that knowledge of Him, we strengthen our relationship with Him as we obey His Word.  He answers prayers again and again.  He reveals His character to us as He works in our lives through His Word, church family, service to Him and answers to prayer. We begin our history.   

Yet it only takes the next crises and fear steps in, anxiety grips our hearts. And we realize that we do not trust the Lord as much as we thought we did.  Clamor hands and a spike on the worry meter indicates trust in God is at an all time low.  

We are not alone though. I am reminded of the story of Elijah in the Bible.  In chapter 18 of I Kings, Elijah defeats and the kills the false prophets of Israel through the power of God alone.  But in chapter 19, he runs away because he is afraid.  Just a few moments ago, Elijah had mocked the prophets because He believed in His God.  He had just seen the absolute miracles of the Almighty God.  But now, this Queen, this human queen, demands justice for her dead prophets. She demands his life as an exchange, and He runs for his life.  What happened? Did he so quickly the works of His God? “Trust Me, Brenda”. 

Sometimes I am amazed at the unfailing, unwavering, unconditional love God has for His people.  He loves us.  He loves you and me.  He loved Elijah.  Even with Elijah’s fear and worry and depression, He lovingly comforts and restores him.  He is patient and extends grace and mercy to His unbelieving child.  Just as Jesus did with Thomas in John 20.  

So, what causes worry and anxiety during crises times? The answer can be lead back to fear and at times uncertainty.  Fear that perhaps the Lord will not do what I want Him to do for me.   Fear that perhaps my timing will not be His.  Fear at times, caused by the situation itself.  Uncertainty because I cannot predict the outcome of the situation. So many possible solutions, but I want only this one.  “Trust me, Brenda”.  

I am so focused on what I want the Lord to do, that most times, I forget His character.  I want Him to do, that Who He is slips my mind.  The doing becomes more important that the Being.  Because His Being dies not take precedent in my mind and heart, the doing is uncertain.  “Forgive me, Lord.”

Natalie Grant sings in her song tilted “More Than Anything”, 

Help me want the Healer
More than the healing
Help me want the Savior
More than the saving
Help me want the Giver
More than the giving
Oh, help me want You, Jesus
More than anything.

That right there, dear friends, is at times, my struggle.  To trust that the God of the Universe will supply all my needs. That He will work all things out for my good is my battle.   “Trust me, Brenda.” 

He does because He is.  He does good because He is good.  Trust in the character of God brings far more peace than trust in what I want Him to do.  The character of God ensures that everything that is good for me is the Lord’s desire for me.  “I will trust You, Lord”.  

Help me to want You, Jesus, more than anything.  

How are you? Do you struggle in trusting the Lord? How do you know whether you trust Him or not?