Trusting God

When life seems out of control, where do we turn for our anchor in the storm? Can we find peace through trusting God?

Do we find secure in finances or retirement accounts?
Do we feel safe if we own personal guns or firearms?
Do we depend on earthly governments to produce a sense of peace in our lives?

Some run to addictions, others to false comforts.

There is only one secure place we can run; into the unchanging character of God.

While our life experiences and emotions change each day, God remains the same. Certain things about God are always true.The Bible includes many passages on the following traits:

God is all-knowing
God is all-powerful
God is everywhere
God is in control
God does not change

In Daniel 2:21 we see that God is even in control of governments. “He removes kings and sets up kings”. In fact, it is difficult to study the prophets and not come away praising God, experiencing His control and ability to be trusted.

Acts 12 is a story in which Peter is miraculously released from prison. When he gets out, he goes to the church where they are praying for him to be released (vs 5, 12). As Peter tells them the story of his miraculous release from prison, the churches faith and trust in the character of God is strengthened. God has done a miracle.

But there is another side of the this story. What about James?

Acts 12 tells us James was killed by the same king who imprisoned Peter. How did this happen? Did God’s character change? No. He was still all the things we listed above, but the result was different. Peter lives, but James dies.

God did not change, but the outcome did.

When we are faced with these difficulties of life, it would do us well to respond as Shadrack, Mechack, and Abednego do in Daniel 3.

When told to bow and worship the statue of the king or face the fiery furnace, their reply sets a great example for us.

“O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.  But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” (3:16-18)

Daniel’s friends had a trust in God that was based in His character, not the result. He could rescue them, but even if He did not, they were not going to worship the statue.

Their faith is in the unchanging character of God, not the result, not emotions, and not any experience. Can we do the same?

“Trusting God is a choice to believe the promises of God in spite of emotion” Jerry Bridges

Application:

• What do you run to in a time of trial?
• What false comforts or addictions do you have?
• Is our trust in God based in His Character or in the results we are hoping for?

How will meditating on the character of God help us grow in our trust of Him? Let the dialogue begin!

This post is one in a series of devotionals which were published in La Biblia Del Discipulo (The Discipleship Bible), which is a Spanish language Bible. For more information on the Bible, please visit : http://www.bibliadeldiscipulo.com.

The E-Version is also available for IPads or mobile devices. Copyright 2011.