“Trust Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him for God is our Refuge.” (Psalm 62:8 NIV)
I read this in the last moments of the evening; the scripture tucked around me as I tumbled toward sleep. “Trust Him at all times.”
I’m fairly good at trusting Him some of the time. Maybe even most of the time. But those three little letters expose my weakness: all is still out of reach for me.
Maybe that is one of the reasons we press on after conversion: it takes time and opportunity to knead the gospel into the full body of our existence. We require days and years to get the hang of this trust business.
All includes a lot. That little ‘all’ requires trust in good times and in bad. On mountaintops and in valleys alike. In excess and lack. In prime health and poor health. On fine spring days and blustery blizzarding nights. In surety but also in chaos. With addition and subtraction. On birth days and death days and the dash that lies between. We are pressed, even dared to trust Him at all times.
Today I am thankful for the gift of a little more time to figure it all out. I might be a slow learner but the lightbulb is finally burning brightly and I’m cooperating with the Teacher. His lesson plan is good and my education will ultimately bring Him glory.
“This is what the Lord says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and who heart turns away from the Lord. That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes. They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. But blessed is the one who trust in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the steam. It does not fear when heat comes’ its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”” (Jeremiah 17:5-8 NIV)
Lord, we struggle against that little word all. Forgive us for our lack of belief. Please equip us to trust our way through the twists and turns of life. Build up our confidence in You in all circumstances. Amen.