Trusting God in all things is a life-long lesson. Start by taking God at his word in some small matter, trusting him with it, and you will find you can more quickly trust him the next time with the next matter.
How do you get to the place where you trust God in all things?
Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada, and for me, it’s been a life-long lesson. But my confidence in God, over the years, has gotten stronger. And that’s the key, isn’t it? You take God at his word in some little, small matter, trusting him with it, and oh, my goodness, you find you can more quickly trust him the next time with the next matter, and the next. Like, okay, I remember years ago when I first started leaving the house in my wheelchair – you know, to go to the mall or to restaurants – I felt like turning around and going right back, back into the safety and comfort of my own home; I knew what to expect in my own house; there were no surprises; it felt safe. But going out in public, in my wheelchair, me, a quadriplegic, I was more than a little anxious. But my friends persisted – God bless them – and before long, I found myself in the food court at the mall with them. And I recall not wanting to eat anything, but just sit there and be content to watch my friends enjoy their lunch. But they would have none of it. They ordered me a hamburger, insisting they’d be happy to feed it to me.
At first, I was so embarrassed. As people walked through the food court, I could feel their gaze. A few stared at me when they passed by. Kids sitting in the next table kept glancing, watching me, a young adult, being fed as though I were a child. Now, I knew it was wrong to glare back at them, and so, right there, I asked God for help, and I submitted to being fed that big burger with mustard dripping, having someone wipe away the ketchup from my mouth, lift the soda to my lips.
But you know what? Things got easier with every outing to that food court. And finally, there came a time I was able to feed myself in public. With a bent spoon in my arm splint, I could do it – although, in restaurants, I was mindful to always order mashed potatoes because everything sticks to mashed potatoes, and nothing will fall off my spoon. One outing like that built on top of another and another, and before long, I didn’t even care if people watched, or if children stared. The satisfaction in feeding myself outweighed whatever anxieties were left over. And over time, even those anxieties disappeared.
And you know, it’s not all that different when it comes to trusting God. At first, when he puts you in an awkward, difficult situation that makes you feel anxious, you might resent it. But there are lessons to be learned and challenges to be overcome there, and so, you ask God for help and you submit to his plan. And then, with the next difficult situation, trusting him becomes, you know, a little more natural. You can do this. You can believe his Word. He’s proved himself reliable and he will pull you through. Plus, there is a wonderful satisfaction in trusting the Lord that outweighs all anxieties. And so, you build one trust on top of another and another until eventually, you turn to the Lord for everything. You do not dare do a thing without trusting in his protection and provision. Psalm 62:8 puts it this way; it says, “Trust in the Lord at all times.” Well, that’s a big order, but God believes you can do it with his help. And so, today, prove God to be faithful to his own word, and prove him that he will hold you fast to his Word, one circumstance after the next.
Like the old hymn goes, “Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him, how I’ve proved him o’er and o’er; Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus; oh for grace to trust [you] more.” “Trust in the Lord at all times,” Psalm 62 says, so perhaps the biggest question is, will you do that? Friend, you can; and you must if you claim Christ as your Lord. Whatever hard thing he’s asking of you today, lean on his help and submit to his plan.
© Joni and Friends