Waiting and Trusting
Years ago, my husband Brad and I were in a waiting period. His company had gone through a merger and was collapsing positions and territories, which left his employment in jeopardy. For months we didn’t know if Brad would keep his job or if he’d need to find another one. During that time, we had to choose to trust God. And it wasn’t easy.
Choosing to trust God is so daily, isn’t it?
When I only looked at the “what-ifs” of Brad’s job situation – the possible unemployment, the stress of job-hunting, the financial strain of unemployment, and the uncertainty of the economy – my faith and God-confidence shook and waned. Fear and doubt knocked on the door of my heart, suitcases in hand, wanting to move in and take up residence.
On the other hand, when I fixed my eyes on God, looked at His character and at the ways He had brought us through hard times in the past, my faith was strengthened. Courage and confidence knocked on my heart! They are much better residents.
The heart-warming testimony of David’s redemption and deliverance from dark times is inspiring. He’d been in a pit. Broken and depressed by choices, people, and what-ifs. As he waited and trusted in God’s goodness, David was comforted and restored by the loving hand of God. He was given a new song.
Psalm 40 is such a classic. I mean U2 sang a song about it, right? (Shout out to Bono.) I’ve lived this one. Like the prodigal son, as a young adult I walked away from my Father and wandered carelessly down my own path. Then, again like the prodigal, after my rebellious choices landed me in a crushing pigpen of despair, I came to my senses and returned to the Father. I waited patiently for the Lord, and He turned and heard my cry. "He lifted me up out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire. He set my feet upon a rock, and He gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to my God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in Him." (Psalm 40:1-3) I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Grace changes everything. I’m living proof.
“Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord." (v4) So true. We serve a God who turns His ear to us when we cry out to Him. My pit was transformed into a place of healing and forgiveness through the confession of my sins and the forgiveness of my Father. I was not, however, relinquished from the consequences of my actions. There are always consequences to our actions, regardless of whether we follow Christ or not. Thankfully the Lord gives redemption and restoration authority to change the narrative of our lives when we humble ourselves before Him. Grace dictates a new story. A story of hope. Like the writer of Hebrews implored, “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:23)
Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Choosing to trust God changes everything.
How can we choose to trust God? We decide in our hearts. We recognize that our own understanding will fail us. We submit our ways, our conversations, our attitudes, our pasts, our relationships, our employment… our everything to the faithful One who not only straightens our paths but walks them with us.
No matter what challenges you face today, take comfort that God knows every issue on your heart and is able to shoulder your burdens. Hold fast to the faithful One. Your challenges do not fall outside the scope of God’s ability to intervene. He is able to bring peace in the pain and strength in the struggle.
Trusting God isn’t always easy… but it is always best.
~ Gwen Smith is an author, speaker, co-founder of Girlfriends in God and host of the Graceologie podcast.