Do you ever struggle to trust God?
Let me be the first to admit I struggle with trusting God completely.
Oh, we may not call it such. But when I fear, I’m not trusting God is capable of handling that situation.
When I strive, I’m not trusting His ultimate provision.
Sometimes I’m prone to believe that God will answer a friend’s prayer but not mine, which is really a lack of trust in Him when the Bible says He does not play favorites.
Even in the Garden of Eden, Eve struggled to trust God
Difficulty trusting God has been a problem since the beginning of man, or woman, as the case may be.
If we trace back to the Garden of Eden, we see the first woman struggle to trust God. She was the mother of all humanity, a friend of God who walked and talked with Him daily in the garden. Her every need was supplied for and yet she didn’t trust Him.
She fell prey to the serpent who tempted her with the very thing she wanted but already had. She wanted to be more like God. But the thing is, she was already like God. She had been created in His image.
If Eve had trusted God, trusted that He was good, that He provided for her every need, that He loved her enough to not withhold any good gift from her, she would not have listened and believed the lies of the enemy. She would not have searched elsewhere.
Searching elsewhere for our needs to be met
How often do we search elsewhere for the things we desire?
The things we think we need?
The things He has already given us?
I have looked to people for wisdom when God promises that He will liberally give wisdom to whoever asks for it.
I have gone through independent streaks, trying to prove my strength, when He promises that He will be our strength.
I have worried about providing for my family when God promises to be my provider.
I have looked to people for acceptance when God says He loves and accepts me unconditionally, and that His love will never fail me.
Consequences for misplaced trust
There were consequences for Eve’s misplaced trust, just as there are consequences when we don’t trust God. Her mistrust and ours result in a fractured relationship with the very God who created us and loves us perfectly. Placing our faith or trust in the lies of the enemy results in emptiness for nothing he offers ever satisfies. Yet if we will trust God, He promises to meet our needs.
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus”
(Philippians 4:19).
The one fundamental thing that God asks from us is that we will believe. That we trust Him.
God is worthy of our trust.
Where do you need to trust Him today?
(If you have a question you’d like Dr. B to answer, contact her here now. Your name and identity will be kept confidential.)
Resource to Break Anxiety’s Grip
No question, we have a lot to worry about. Children, jobs, homes, health, finances, and more. The solution isn’t to rid ourselves of the sources of anxiety – as if we could. Instead, we need to recognize that anxiety originates from a spiritual influence and that we can fight back using the God-given weapons of power, love, and a sound mind.
We can discover true peace in an age of anxiety.
In Breaking Anxiety’s Grip, Dr. Michelle Bengtson shares her own story of emerging from the battle with anxiety as well as the stories of others. She reminds you of your identity as a follower of Christ and of the peace he promises you in spite of everything.
She provides tools to cope with the crushing emotional burden of anxiety now and, more importantly, shows you how to reclaim God’s peace as a way of life so that you can break anxiety’s grip.
Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises is now available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, ChristianBooks.com, Books-A-Million, and other fine book retailers.
Click here to learn more: Breaking Anxiety’s Grip.
Ah! I need to trust him with my stories. I feel that they may be helpful and a blessing to others, but I don’t know what the next step is. Thank you for the reminder to just trust. God has a plan and he’ll work it out.
I worry about provision and acceptance. These issues seems to be my weakness, especially worrying about bills. We recently had a setback with insurance. My husband’s work insurance increased by 80 percent, and we have not heard from his work about alternatives yet. I am really worrying about this and I know I shouldn’t. Worry doesn’t help. Thanks for your post. It was very timely.
What a good word, Michelle! It does seem to come down to those simple (yet hard) things – trust and obey.
Our family is learning to trust God as never before to be our Provider. Most days I do well, but sometimes those little seeds of doubt creep in.
Thanks for a wonderful reminder to keep trusting!
Blessings,
Melanie
I am using this post you shared on last weeks #JoyHopeLive as my feature for the link up that goes live tomorrow. Here is the link: http://www.mylifeinprogress.org/finding-joy-in-everyday-32/
Thanks for sharing on Throwback Thursday Blog-Style. Trust in God is something I definitely struggle with and this was a great encouragement and reminder.
When the enemy comes to taunt me; to bring doubts and fears about finances and health issues; most times I speak truth and run him off but SOMETIMES I listen longer than I should and his lies get into my thought process. I forget how God has cared for us so bountifully but sooner than I used to do, I take that thought captive and begin to heal from his attack using the truth of God’s Word and the truth of His constant and steady provision. I try to always remember that He has cared for me over my life and He will care for me now. This message is SO GOOD and SO NEEDED today!! Thank you for being sensitive to the Lord and to our needs! Love and appreciate you, Michelle, so much!!!
Amen! Thank you for the reminder that God is worthy of our trust.