Those who trust in the Lord will possess the land.Psalm 37:9 NLT
Not having others’ trust is a discomforting state to live in, but learning to trust can also tax the soul.
Some years ago—because of an unforeseen financial crunch and another person’s bad decisions that affected me—my credit rating plummeted to an all-time low. It had always been spotless, but now it was spotted. Years of financial struggle followed the initial blow, and more things went unpaid as the numbers continued to sink.
Borrowing for big-ticket items was out of the question unless I wanted to deal with a firm that charged outrageous interest rates. The only other option was having someone co-sign for me. Thank goodness for a mother who understood and was willing to put her good-credit name on a document for me.
I knew I was trustworthy, but explaining why my credit score was so low made no difference to the lending agency. They were looking at numbers—not my word.
Trust is a delicate item. It takes years to build, and it can be destroyed by one wrong decision—mine or someone else’s. Once destroyed, it requires years to re-establish—if it ever returns.
Despite my foibles, God trusts me. I’m His creation. His masterpiece in the making. An object of His unconditional love. His desire is that I trust Him in return. Enough to turn control of my life over to Him so He can conform me to the likeness of Jesus and work out His plan in my life.
Trusting God means turning everything in our lives over to Him. Our relationships, finances, children, grandchildren, possessions, employment, and daily decisions. Doing so can be a scary adventure. We feel more comfortable when we’re in control, just as lending agencies feel better when they control whether they give us money.
But letting go is the only way we can “possess the land.” Possessing the land symbolizes peace. When the conquerors displaced the enemies, peace resulted. A peaceful existence is only possible when we let God control and when we believe He is in control. Then we don’t have to worry or be anxious. He is capable of handling any and everything that comes our way.
Trust God in every circumstance of your life. You’ll learn to live with a peace such as you’ve never experienced before.
Martin Wiles lives in Greenwood, SC, and is the founder of Love Lines from God. He is a freelance editor, English teacher, pastor, and author. He serves as Managing Editor for both Christian Devotions and Vinewords.net and is an instructor for the Christian PEN (professional editor’s network). Wiles is a multi-published author. His most recent book, Hurt, Hope and Healing: 52 Devotions That Will Lead to Spiritual Health, is available on Amazon. He and his wife are parents of two and grandparents of seven. He can be contacted at mandmwiles@gmail.com.
Latest posts by Martin Wiles (see all)
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