I remember the simple analogy my youth pastor once used to explain faith.
As the students did at every youth event, we were sitting in folding chairs that Sunday. Shayne, the youth pastor, pointed out that all of the chairs were doing a fine job of holding us - just as we anticipated they would. Not one of us came in that day and inspected our chairs to insure stability or reliability. We simply trusted that the chairs would support us as they had for so many meetings prior.
That's faith. Faith that some would call blind. Simply believing - without requiring a background check, certificate of authenticity or ten-point inspection first.
I was reminded of this type of belief again this morning as I read from Jeremiah 17. Verses 7 and 8 read, "But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."
The first verse especially caught my attention. I want to trust in the Lord and I do... sometimes. But lately, more often than not it seems, I struggle with this very thing.
Why? Because I want to see His plan first. I want to see a roadmap of my future that's clearly marked: "NEXT STOP: Happyville" (That's the town right down the road from Wedded Blissburg in Financial Stability County. The population consists of couples with white picket fences, 2.5 children and vacation houses on the beach. I've gotten carried away again, haven't I?)
Then, once I snap out of my unrealistic daydream, I realize something. That's NOT trust. No trust is required on the journey that's perfectly mapped out and laid in front of you.
Sure, God is doing an amazing work in my life and sure, He has plans for me beyond what I can even imagine, but He knows (and I know) that if He spelled it all out for me, I would cease to rely on Him and seek His will.
So if I know all this, why is trusting Him so difficult sometimes? I think I've figured that one out too.
If you listen to Air1 Radio then you've probably heard the soundbite of Jason Gray explaining his inspiration for the song, "Remind Me Who I Am." He says that sin is often the result of forgetting who we are. Well, if that's the case, then I contend that a lack of faith is the direct result of forgetting who God is.
It's analogy time again.
A couple of days ago my car battery died and my brother-in-law had to jump start my van. Jumper cables always make me nervous, probably because I've never really learned to use them properly and I fear being electrocuted or blown up if I get the colors or order wrong. With the cables in Robert's capable hands, however, I felt completely at ease and had 100% confidence that he knew what he was doing and would get the job done. I had faith in Robert because of who he is - an intelligent, capable and trustworthy person.
If I can put that much confidence in a man, why not the Creator of the universe?! Clearly it is because I have forgotten who He is, what He is capable of and even what He has already done in my life.
Referring back to the passage in Jeremiah, I long to be that strong tree that does not fear and has no worries in a year of drought. The key for me (and for you) is trust and confidence in God - not in ourselves or what we can see - but in our more-than-capable Savior.
As the students did at every youth event, we were sitting in folding chairs that Sunday. Shayne, the youth pastor, pointed out that all of the chairs were doing a fine job of holding us - just as we anticipated they would. Not one of us came in that day and inspected our chairs to insure stability or reliability. We simply trusted that the chairs would support us as they had for so many meetings prior.
That's faith. Faith that some would call blind. Simply believing - without requiring a background check, certificate of authenticity or ten-point inspection first.
I was reminded of this type of belief again this morning as I read from Jeremiah 17. Verses 7 and 8 read, "But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."
The first verse especially caught my attention. I want to trust in the Lord and I do... sometimes. But lately, more often than not it seems, I struggle with this very thing.
Why? Because I want to see His plan first. I want to see a roadmap of my future that's clearly marked: "NEXT STOP: Happyville" (That's the town right down the road from Wedded Blissburg in Financial Stability County. The population consists of couples with white picket fences, 2.5 children and vacation houses on the beach. I've gotten carried away again, haven't I?)
Then, once I snap out of my unrealistic daydream, I realize something. That's NOT trust. No trust is required on the journey that's perfectly mapped out and laid in front of you.
Sure, God is doing an amazing work in my life and sure, He has plans for me beyond what I can even imagine, but He knows (and I know) that if He spelled it all out for me, I would cease to rely on Him and seek His will.
So if I know all this, why is trusting Him so difficult sometimes? I think I've figured that one out too.
If you listen to Air1 Radio then you've probably heard the soundbite of Jason Gray explaining his inspiration for the song, "Remind Me Who I Am." He says that sin is often the result of forgetting who we are. Well, if that's the case, then I contend that a lack of faith is the direct result of forgetting who God is.
It's analogy time again.
A couple of days ago my car battery died and my brother-in-law had to jump start my van. Jumper cables always make me nervous, probably because I've never really learned to use them properly and I fear being electrocuted or blown up if I get the colors or order wrong. With the cables in Robert's capable hands, however, I felt completely at ease and had 100% confidence that he knew what he was doing and would get the job done. I had faith in Robert because of who he is - an intelligent, capable and trustworthy person.
If I can put that much confidence in a man, why not the Creator of the universe?! Clearly it is because I have forgotten who He is, what He is capable of and even what He has already done in my life.
Referring back to the passage in Jeremiah, I long to be that strong tree that does not fear and has no worries in a year of drought. The key for me (and for you) is trust and confidence in God - not in ourselves or what we can see - but in our more-than-capable Savior.
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