But Do You Trust Him? Part 2

This is where Trusting God rounds out your Faith in God. This is where I circle back around to the core of this message: "But do you trust Him?"

If things seem too hard and you feel like you've already given all you can give, yet He's asking for more...will you trust Him?

Almost everyone suffers loss and heartbreak at some point in their life, some far worse than others. Here's my personal insight into this issue. 

Many years ago, I experienced a season of deep personal loss, by far the most painful period of my life. I knew God could have prevented it, but He didn't.

It took all I had just to barely get through each day. While in the middle of that deep brokenness, I began to sense that He was wanting even more from me. In that crisis moment, from the depths of my soul, I yelled at Him. Yes, in anger and pain, I really did yell at God, my voice growled.

"Just what do You want from me now?"

I'm most definitely not proud of that memory. I only share it today because maybe it will speak to your heart. Maybe it's something you need to hear.

You see, He didn't strike me down. No, He brought me through that hard season. I learned that I have to trust Him even when it doesn't make sense and even when it hurts so much.

The big truth is that God will work through ALL of the difficulty of this life, even that meant by the enemy to harm you. God won't let any of it go to waste. He is not the one out to hurt you. He loves you so very much!

Romans 8:28 NKJV

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.  

He definitely cares about your short term happiness, but He's far more interested in your long term happiness.

When things get hard, many born-again Believers will withdraw from fully trusting God. 

• Some traumatic event makes them question whether God really cares for them.

• Some are afraid of what He may ask of them or want to take from them.

• Some are miffed with Him because He didn't do something that they thought He should have. Others are offended because He's not doing things the way they want.

But what does the Bible tell us? We should learn from Job's blunt example.

Job 13:15 NKJV

Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him...

The real question is whether you will trust God no matter what does or doesn't happen, and no matter how it feels. Trusting Him completely is always the right thing to do.

• Whether or not you're healed.

• Whether or not your physical and emotional needs are being met.

• Whether or not you feel secure, financially or otherwise.

I could go on and on because there's many more "whether or nots" I could add to that list.

I'll say it again: trusting Him completely is always the right thing to do. Never forget, Jesus definitely cares about your short term happiness, but He's far more interested in your long term happiness.

Understandably, people want things to be smooth and steady. But what if they aren't?

The real bottom line is this: as a follower and lover of Jesus, whatever your personal list of wants, needs or expectations might be, your life here is no longer yours.

Your life is now about something far bigger than you. It's really about Jesus getting the reward He wants out of the Creation He made and owns. (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 2:10)

He paid a very high price to buy you from darkness and destruction. Give Him what He paid for. 

1 Corinthians 6:20 NKJV

For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Whatever your life is like here, whatever is difficult or whatever you miss out on, He will make it all up to you. He has eternity to do that, but it won't take Him eternity. The very first moment in His presence will change everything.

Romans 8:18 NKJV

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

1 Corinthians 2:9 NIV

...As it is written:

“What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” -- the things God has prepared for those who love Him.

God's plan and process goes far beyond you and me. We'll see it in eternity and be amazed by the beauty of it. For now, let's trust Him and embrace it.

The one thing I absolutely must have is for His heart's desires to be fulfilled as much as possible, whether my part in His story is comfortable for me in the here and now or not.

Whatever it means for me, I want to sell out completely to Him. I want His dreams fulfilled. I've had a glimpse of the big picture, and that's my goal.

In that big picture, it's really in my best interest to fully trust His heart and His process. I want to find myself by losing myself in Him. It's the only smart choice for any of us.

This is how Jesus said it.

Matthew 16:25 NKJV

For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

Jesus paid so much for us. May He get what He wants out of the contaminated mess this creation has become.