Trusting God

It has been said that the best teaching springs from personal experience and I have found that to be true as a pastor. The things I have experienced learned from and come out on the other side of a better person and Christian, have resonated with my people when I teach on that particular subject. 2 Sam 22:31, reads, “As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.”(KJV) and in Job 13:15-16, we read, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. He also shall be my salvation:for a hypocrite shall not come before him.”(KJV).

But do we believe it, live it. or are we hypocrites? How many of us would truly say “though He slay me, yet I will trust in Him”? If we did I believe we would live dramatically different lives. Now I am writing this on New Years day, and as I do so, there is setting out in the carport my 2000 Nissan Frontier. I got it back from the shop two weeks ago, after having some recall work done and it still not running. The dealership informed me that the distributor was bad and quoted me a price that sent me into spasms. So I order the part myself and received it last week only to find out that it was defective. So my truck will set broken down until some time next week or the week after when the replacement part arrives. Setting next to my truck is my wife’s 1999 Ford Explorer. Last summer we replaced the leaking timing cover and replaced the old water pump and thermostat. Yesterday, I noticed that it was leaking antifreeze. So I went outside this morning hoping that it was just a bad hose. But unfortunately it was not a hose but the timing chain cover and thermostat which were leaking again. So now neither of our cars are running. The good news is that we borrowed my Mother-in-laws regular cab truck, so Kim can at least go to work, and I can visit in the evening, however, we can go nowhere as a family.

When I came in I found my wife decorating a cake for 7 year old daughter’s birthday party which, is in 3 hours. More correctly, I should say she was trying to decorate it. Now you need to understand that while she is not a professional, my wife can bake a mean cake, and does an amazing job decorating them. For the last several years she has made all the children’s cakes. The problem is that today for some reason, she could not get the icing the right color. The purple icing no matter what we tried came out blue, and the pink icing no matter how much red we added came out peach. And if that were not enough when she finally loaded her piping bag, the icing would not come out. She tried all the tricks of the trade and finally gave up and went to the store to buy one greatly upset that she could not bake her daughter a special birthday cake. While all this was going on, my son came into the kitchen to tell us that his braces were broken in not one but two places, and we will not be able to see the orthodontist until Monday, assuming we have a car to get him there.

Unable to do anything about the situation, I sat down in the living room to work on the blog I posted on New Years Day (today as I am writing this) only to have my daughter come in and tell me that there is water in the hall floor outside the bathroom. Now you need to understand is that there is no plumbing in the attic and it has not rained. But some how water from the showers condensates on some old duct work and drips down on the ceiling. Two months ago after, I thought I had fixed the problem; I patched and repainted the ceiling which will now undoubtedly have to be fixed again. Then my wife came in and told me that the flag pole had been blown off the side of the house and was lying on the steps. And if all this were not enough I went into the laundry room to find water standing in the floor as a result of the drain likely backing up and overflowing back out of the pipe, at the same time my wife informs me that there is a puddle of water under the kitchen sink which we have no idea where it came from.

So this has been my day and it is only lunch time, but I have no fears or worries, everything will work out in the end. This is either the work of the evil one, a test from God, or just life. Regardless of which, I serve an awesome God who one day will come and claim me as His own. He will usher me into eternity, lavish rewards upon me which I will lay gladly at His feet, after which I will spend eternity in His presence. Our minds can not even come close to imaginings how glorious and wonderful it will actually be. Ps 5:11-12, reads, “But let all who take refuge in You (trust in you -KJV) be glad, Let them ever sing for joy; And may You shelter them, That those who love Your name may exult in You. For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O LORD, You surround him with favor as with a shield.” As for me and my house we will rejoice in the Lord for He is our shield and fortress, who lavishes His favor upon us, and even though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. We may never know or understand why tuff and trying times befall us. They could be the result of our own sin, actions or inactions. Or, they could be a trial from God meant to train and strengthen us deepening our faith. They could possibly even be a demonic attack. But one thing we can know for sure is that God is always upon His throne and we can always trust in Him.

Therefore, remember Christ’s words in Matt 6:25-34, “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? “And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? ” And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.  “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you?  You of little faith! “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”