Trusting God

Proverbs 3:5, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”

Psalms 9:10, 

“And those who know your name put their trust in you,
    for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.”

 

Over and over again scripture implores us, commands us, and calls us to trust God, to trust Him enough to obey Him even when we don’t want to. Even when it doesn’t make any sense. Even when the world and everyone in it is telling us something different. Why? Because trusting God is the key to fulfilling your purpose in this life, to being successful in this life. Allowing God, your Creator and your Heavenly Father to guide your life will lead you to accomplish things on an eternal level, even when you aren’t aware of it (see last weeks devo).

 

The question is – will you choose to trust God?

 

Yesterday we completed our 5 week study of the life of Joseph called “Trust” – in both difficult and triumphant moments Joseph showed us what it looks like to trust God. 

 

I want to take the next few moments and quickly go through the 5 lessons Joseph taught us about what trusting God means. 

 

Trusting God means making Him your refuge, even more than your family. Your refuge is the place you retreat to. A safe place where you go to take a break and be reminded of why you’re in the fight in the first place. There are a lot of alternatives to God that can be a refuge for you. But they will all lead you astray – get you fighting for the wrong cause. It is easy to make family our refuge – while family is a sacred gift from God they must never be your refuge. Only God can be that. If you trust Him you choose to make Him your refuge in times of need.

 

Trusting God means committing to God’s goals, even in unfair situations. Then we see Joseph overcome temptation and do the right thing with Potiphar’s wife and he gets falsely accused and sent to prison anyway. There are few things more frustrating than unfair situations. We often assume that the best thing for us to do is get out of that unfair situation or get justice for it. But sometimes Gods goal is for you to do something in that unfair situation. In Joseph’s situation God used him to minister to many, particularly Pharaoh’s cupbearer. Although it took years, God used it to put Joseph before Pharaoh and ultimately in a position to save lives. Part of trusting Him is committing to His goals over yours no matter the circumstances.

 

Trusting God means being thankful, even when He allows you to suffer. This is a tough one. I do not believe that God causes all suffering, however I know that He allows it. Any time you suffer you have to come to terms with the fact that God has allowed this. Can you be thankful anyway? Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 to “give thanks IN all circumstances.” It doesn’t say to gives thanks for all circumstances but rather in them. In the bad circumstances you can thank God for being with you in those times and that He is working behind the scenes even when you don’t know it. Part of trusting God is choosing to be thankful even when things are bad. 

 

Trusting God means acknowledging your desperate need for Him, even in times of prosperity. It may seem hard to trust God in adversity – but prosperity is the real test. There is much scripture in both Old and New Testament that warns against the dangers of riches and good times. Not that they are bad. God means for us to enjoy them. The problem comes when we put our hope in the prosperity rather than God. When things are good for you - are you actively seeking God – trying to keep the truth in front of you that you still need Him more than anything? Part of trusting God is remaining dependent on God no matter what. Don’t trust the provisions more than the Provider. 

 

Trusting God means forgiving other people’s sins against you, even when they don’t ask for it.

The final lesson Joseph taught us yesterday was with his brothers. They had sold him to slavery some 20 years before and Joseph finds them asking him for food not knowing who he was. Joseph could have made them pay; he could have delivered justice in a big way. But instead, he forgives them, invites them to live with him and chooses to provide for them and their families for the rest of his life. When you trust God-you trust Him with justice and vengeance. You trust that He has forgiven you so what right do you have to not forgive someone else? 

 

These are all tough lessons - but look at how they turned out for Joseph. Because he chose to trust God in all times God led him to a life that brought salvation to many and is still teaching people even today. 

 

So, no matter how hard it is trust God and live! 

 

Love you church!