TRUSTING
Trust generally does not just happen. Typically it develops gradually through trial and error as a result of life experiences. Picture yourself standing at the edge of an ice covered pond. You would most likely test the ice to determine whether it is safe before you venture out from your place of safety on shore. Learning to trust is much the same. My journey of developing trust began September 23, 1976 when I became a Christian and surrendered my life to Jesus. That initial step of faith or trust happened when I realized something needed to change in my life. My second marriage was not healthy and I was desperate to find a way to make the marriage work. As a new believer I embarked on a two year study course of the Bible. I learned that God loves me, that he is faithful and trustworthy. During this time I came to a faith crossroads. I made the decision I would serve God no matter what happened with the marriage. I grew up attending church. Until that evening in September 1976 I knew about God but I did not know Him. Knowing God personally began when I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. “The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows”, is a line which comes from a hymn written by Bill Gaither. I have experienced this to be true in my life. Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT reads “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take”. Another way to look at the process of learning to trust is to imagine a bathtub of hot steaming water. Now imagine putting your big toe into the water and next your foot, as you adjust to it’s temperature. Next you are standing in the tub and slowly sinking down until you are covered, experiencing the warmth and comfort at the end of a long and stress filled day. As we develop trust in our personal relationship with God , his presence envelops us in a way similar to to being submerged in a hot bath. We become more comfortable and trust develops more deeply. We find ourselves trusting Him more, and our relationship with him more solid and secure. There is a term you may have heard expressed, “The warmth and presence of the Holy Spirit”. It describes the reality of experiencing God’s presence. Doing so is much like having a warm blanket wrapped over our shoulders and around our body, producing a sense of security and safety. Nothing any of us has done or could do will stop God from loving us and accepting us if we turn to Him. Likewise there is nothing which would cause Him to love us less or more than He already does. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety, he is my God, and I trust him. Psalms 91:2 NLT