Do You: Trust or Worry?

Do you have a hard time trusting God? Do you worry a lot? If you trust God, do you really need to worry? If you are worrying, then are you really trusting God? Trust doesn't equal worry. It is a hard to balance trust and worry and to keep everything in the right perspective. It takes effort to transform from a worry wart to trust tot. They say one who worries doesn't trust God and one who trusts God doesn't worry. I wish it were that easy. I understand the concept of whoever created that cliche. However, it's not really accurate to say because we do worry about an issue that we don't trust God or that because we are trusting God we don't have worries. If we take it a step further, and not in a broad sense, then this would apply if we say that from issue to issue. It would be fair to say that if we are worrying over our income or job loss, then we are not trusting God in that “area” of our life yet we are trusting Him in other areas.

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Matthew 6:25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Matthew 6:27 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34

I can clearly say that I am not worried about the selling of my house. It is an emotional roller coaster but after ten months on the market, I know that God will sell it in His time and His way. I know this. At times I wonder what He is waiting for but I trust He knows what He's doing and has reasons (besides the slow market!). He may also be working in the potential buyer’s life. He may need to further prepare me for the move. He may need to prepare a new place to live. So I fully trust Him even though at times I get anxious just to know the plan. Now, take a more personal issue that deals with other people, then I cannot say I fully leave my worry at His Feet all the time. Though in the last week I feel the weight has lifted. It's not a matter of not trusting Him but realizing He doesn't force His Hand on anyone and it is fear of the other people involved will not see the true path God wants to be traveled. Yet, I do trust Him with the results regardless of the actions of others. I know that He has me in His care. If my heart’s desires aren't fulfilled because He cannot force others to follow His plan, then I do know He'll make the best out of my life.

I say this to express that there are some areas of our lives that we can much more easily give to the Lord and fully trust in Him. I have found that the areas that are closest to our heart’s, our deepest heart’s desires, can be hard to release into His Hands. Those issues that involve the hearts and emotions of others and are based on their decisions are also difficult to leave at His Feet. This is because we know God will not infringe on a person’s free will. So, even though God’s desires and our desires line up, He may very well be waiting on another person to open his/her heart fully to God’s desires. We don’t know why your son has gone a year without a job offer. We don’t know why your sister hasn’t become pregnant. We don’t know why your friend hasn’t found sufficient housing. We don’t know why your co-worker hasn’t found a mate. We don't know why your brother lost his job. We don't know why Christian marriages end. All these situations involve more than just one person. So, when we are seeking the Lord for answers in our lives, He very well may be waiting on another piece of the puzzle. Maybe He needs to teach us something about patience. Maybe He wants to teach us about trusting Him fully. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

We need to continually examine our hearts. When we begin to worry over things, we must recognize that is occurring. At that time, we must stop our way of thinking and replace those thoughts with God being in control and taking care of things the best way He sees fit (without forcing His will). I've written on trust in the past and we've examined and know that God is very much worthy of our trust. We need to do our part to recognize the thoughts of worry and transform them into trust. Replace worry with trust so that we can say we fully have trust in God; therefore, we do not have worry in our heart. There is power in our thinking. We must take control of our thought life. If we continually worry, God will see that as a lack of trust. He may continue to allow unstable situations in our lives until we let go and trust Him fully. Think on this, if we have no problems then there is no opportunity for us to show God that we will not succomb to worry but rather trust Him completely. If we have not exemplified our trust in Him, He very well may continue to allow those unstable situations, so that we come to a point of letting it all go and realizing worrying will not change anything but rather trusting God will change things. Trusting God is an act of showing God we acknowledge His control and His role in our life.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Be Blessed in Him,