The United States currency carries a profound statement that many of us no longer engage with. It reads, In God We Trust. Despite those words, it is not uncommon to find that we do not turn to God in times of trouble. How about us? Who/What is our God? Today’s Holy Nougat offers food for thought as we navigate challenges in life.
Isaiah 26:3-4 CEB
[3] Those with sound thoughts you will keep in peace, in peace, because they trust in you.
[4] Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD is a rock for all ages.
Trusting in God
So peace is not only about focusing on God. It also entails believing that God is able to, and will do that which God has promised (see Romans 4:21); including what we hand over to God’s care (see 2 Timothy 1:12). The prophet Isaiah extends this thought further to state that in so doing, we will remain grounded.
Self-Check
To what extent do we trust God?
Application
Isaiah speaks of trust as ‘having confidence in’; that is, the assurance of something’s or someone’s reliability. To trust God speaks to our individual assurance that God is reliable. Now, we’re not talking about plastic seats or motor vehicles that don’t always work beyond the sell by date. Not at all. This goes far deeper than such. It addresses our ability to believe that God can and will see us through, despite having denied our expectations in the past.
Could it be that worry (the absence of peace of mind) is a manifestation of lack of trust in God? If so, how do we claim that God is God? Failing to trust God because we’ve yielded to worry suggests that something or someone else’s power and authority supercedes God’s. That’s dangerous waters in which to tread, for that’s where the enemy wants us. When we fail to trust wholly in God, it’s easier to have us separate ourselves from God’s love.
Isaiah’s prophetic words were written as a praise response in anticipation of future victory against ancient enemies. Again, the invitation is to fortify one’s mind to the extent that we are unmoved by trials and/or betrayal. For, our confidence lies not in systems and structures, but with the Lord our God. We look, therefore, to God’s track record, assuring ourselves … ‘God will do’ what is needed for our good. We also place the situation (by extension, our trust) over to God, Who keeps us from losing hope.
Point to Ponder
What does our current level of peace in life’s storms say about our trust in God?
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May all we seek be found in Christ
