Scripture
Isaiah 55: 8 - 9
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
James 1: 17
17 Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
Reflection
I have been wondering lately about the idea of trust. If we think about it, as we grow up, trust is something that we just do without really thinking about it. For many of us we just trust that we have a place to live, food to eat. We trust that we will be going to school, as much as many of us didn’t like that early morning call, “get out of bed, you are going to be late for school!” I have been thinking about when we lose that trust in the things of this world. Do we lose that trust when we come to realize the truth of the world and how difficult this world can be for us? Do we lose that trust as, throughout our lives, our trust has been violated or broken as we experience loss, heartache, strife, and struggle? It seems that for many of us, as we grow and experience more of the world, we lose our trust.
I know that personally I struggle to trust. I know that I had, what I would have considered to be, a pretty consistent and solid childhood, and yet I struggle to trust in many things in the world. I have often wondered if this lack of trust is because I don’t think that I am deserving of good things? Other times I find so much in this world to be fleeting that there is some hesitation to trust that things will last. I think that there is another part to this for me and that is the idea that I have to be able to control everything and when I am not the one in control, I don’t trust in those things. I think that, for me, it comes from the idea that I struggle to let go of my sense of control and in holding tight to things there is much that I fail to trust and I begin to question everything. But in doing this I think that I miss some amazing experiences, people, and situations in my life.
American author Lauren Kate has said, “Sometimes beautiful things come into our lives out of nowhere. We can't always understand them, but we have to trust in them. I know you want to question everything, but sometimes it pays to just have a little faith.” Sometimes we just need to have a little faith! That is what this really comes down too, doesn’t it, to trust. The scriptures I picked speak to the idea that sometimes we need to let go of our need to control everything and when we can do that we might just open ourselves up to some wonderful gifts. In letting go of our need to control and in trusting in God we come to see that there is much that God provides for us in our lives and to trust that we are being led to where we need to go. There is some wonderful wisdom in 12-step programs and one of the saying has stayed with me for many years, “let go and let God.” To let go of our need to control, to let go of our need to always know, to trust in God, might just lead us to place, people, and experiences that we never thought possible. It is our call to trust in God to lead us to where we need to go.
Prayer
God of gracious gifts, give us the courage to let go of our need to control, our need to always ‘know’ so that we might trust in you and your lead in our lives. Give us the wisdom to accept gifts as they are offered, without questioning and doubt. Help us to trust in you today and everyday. We ask this in the name of the one who came, trusting you, your son, Jesus. Amen.
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