Simple Love and Trust

Knowing God as revealed in the Bible gives us confident expectation of good even when troubles abound.  With the many voices and influences in the world, God's people ought to determine His word will carry greater weight with us than all other feelings, opinions and views.  It is never easy to trust God and follow Him, as we are prone to lean on our own understanding or rely on help or guidance from others, but it is simple enough even a child can do it faithfully.

G.K. Chesterton famously remarked in an essay, "The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting.  It has been found difficult and left untried." (Chesterton, G. K. What’s Wrong with the World. Ignatius Press, 1994. pg. 37)  Indeed, even those who are faithful followers of Jesus Christ find personal sanctification and God's refinement difficult.  When our eyes are focused on how far we have come pride can set in, and should we fix our gaze on how far we still have to go we are easily overwhelmed.  Like Korah who asserted Moses took too much upon himself, being critical and judgmental of others undermines our relationship with the LORD and one another.  It is easy to point out faults in others (for who among us is faultless), but to humble ourselves and to repent is difficult:  difficult to do because we are naturally proud and stubborn, but the concept is quite simple.

God's word has a way of simplifying the dizzying complexities of life and the human heart, teaching us of God who does not change.  God has told us what He will do, and by His grace we are all given the responsibility and agency to choose to trust and love Him or not.  The psalmist declared God's words in Psalm 91:14-16:  "Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. ¹⁵ He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. ¹⁶ With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation."  God has revealed Himself as gracious, longsuffering, merciful and compassionate towards the undeserving.  It is wonderful to consider what God promises to do for those who love Him, know Him and call upon Him.  God is faithful to deliver those who love Him, exalt those who know Him, answer those who call upon Him, and is with those who are in trouble.

Because God will always do His part by His grace, we can rest assured in His guiding hand to help us through the indwelling Holy Spirit.  All who are born again by faith in Jesus Christ have been given the Holy Spirit who guides us into all truth, comforts and helps us to do God's will.  God works in His people both to will and do His good pleasure.  God does not hold us responsible to change ourselves, others or our situations:  He simply calls us to love and trust Him in all seasons of life.  Again, this can be difficult and even impossible, but we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.  Our troubled hearts and fretting minds find rest in the LORD of Hosts who has done all for us, freeing us to praise and thank Him as we submit to Him joyfully in love.