Trusting with Trials

Most of us like to be considered trustworthy. We want people to think that we are worthy of their secrets, of their respect, and their confidence. Whether or not most people are actually trustworthy is a different story, but generally speaking, it’s a quality we all desire.

However, there is one instance where we may be inclined to wish we weren’t trust quite so much. Usually this comes when we are experiencing a trial and we can’t ascertain its purpose. As Christians, we know that God is using the situation, and is using us to accomplish His good (See Romans 8:28), but depending on the magnitude of the trial that we are enduring, we may wish that God didn’t entrust us with so great a task as to represent Him well in the midst of it.

And while this may be our inclination, it’s important to remember that God is trusting us. He’s given us an opportunity to be used for His purpose and while that may be overwhelming at times, it is also a privilege. Hopefully, we want to be the kind of people who suffer well for Christ, and if God has deemed us able to do that, then we should be grateful – maybe not necessarily for the situation – but for the fact that He has counted us worthy to endure what His Son endured (although for most of us, probably to a significantly lesser degree), and to in the midst of hard situations, demonstrate how good He is.

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Willing to Wonder

Traditionally, I’m not a fan of surprises. Perhaps this is because I learned early on in life that a lot of life was unexpected anyway, we didn’t need to go planning additional things to startle us. Or perhaps it’s because it’s my nature to plan things, and surprises, by definition, go contrary to that. Regardless of the reason, if there’s a chance I can find how what’s going to happen, I’ll take it, exchanging the thrill of the unexpected for the comfort of the known.

All this held true, until I met my husband. As I’ve written about previously, I’m married to a great guy… a great guy who is unbelievably creative and loves to surprise me.  And with my husband I can always trust that if he plans the surprise, it will be something I like. With him, surprises are a reason to get excited, rather than nervous. Surprises are an unexpected way to experience his love, rather than an unpleasant detour in life.

I’m learning that the same is true with my relationship with God.  I must be willing to sacrifice my comfort, so I can be amazed at how He works. I must be willing to give up the comfort of the known for the thrill of the unexpected. I must be willing to marvel at His majesty in exchange for the assurance of the common.

In the Bible, we see this principle illustrated frequently. One of my favorite examples of this is the young boy who gave up his food and Christ used it to feed a monstrous crowd (John 6:1-15). The boy didn’t know what Christ would do with his gift, but he gave up, and was willing to stand in wonderment as he saw Christ used it to bless others. He  trusted that however God would surprise them, it would be an expression of His love. Having that kind of faith – to give up what you have without being sure how or even if God will use it, is something every Christian should be striving after.

May we all be willing to give what we have back to God and be willing to stand in wonder as He uses it to further His kingdom.

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