Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil. [NASB]
Proverbs 3:5-7
Throughout our lives we encounter many difficulties. Some, because of the actions of others. Many, because of our own actions. When faced with these difficulties, the first thing we do is try to find a way out. We look to others to help us, we look to ourselves, we sometimes try to buy our way out of trouble.
Children are taught from an early age to apologize for the things they do wrong. This is certainly the right thing to do; but in a child’s world, this is often all that is needed. An “I’m sorry” and everything is forgiven and forgotten. Unfortunately, things are not always this easy as we get older.
Today, even if a child is displeased with trivial things: wanting the same toy that someone else got, getting a bad call against them in a little league game, not getting a role in the school play; while the parents can’t always fix these problems, they typically voice the child’s displeasure in more dramatic ways than a child can themselves.
As we grow older, we may have disappointments with relationships, our jobs, the things we have or don’t have. Things may go well for a while but then we lose our job, we lose our home, we lose a loved-one. In these moments we often find our strength and the strength of others failing us.
As a result we may turn to alcohol or drugs to dull our pain. We may seek out unhealthy or adulterous relationships. We may act in a destructive or self-destructive way because we feel we have nothing more to lose. We basically turn to sin to sooth the effects of difficult circumstances.
These are the moments that the Devil uses to drive us as far away from God as possible. Often times, our circumstances are a result of goals, desires, and behaviors that are not pleasing to God. The Devil would have us believe that the best thing to do in a difficult situation is to do more of the unrighteous things that got us into trouble in the first place. The Devil will always drive us to do the exact opposite of what God wants us to do.
In difficult moments, we are to turn to God to ask Him for the strength to get us through these challenges. In these moments, we are to trust that God will use these things for His purpose. The purpose may be to get us to change our behavior. It may be that He wants us to remember Him and stay close to Him. It may be that He wants to remind us that we will always need Him.
He may want us to stop putting our faith in ourselves, in our abilities, in our money. These things lead to pride. Pride causes us to think that we can do what we want. Pride leads us to believe we deserve the things that our sinful nature desires. Pride causes us to put ourselves and our wants ahead of God.
In difficult times, we can trust that God will give us the strength we need. God will remind us of how we should behave at all times, even in times of difficulty. Rather than drowning our sins in more sins, God will show us, through His Word, how to behave. We will avoid destructive behavior because we know that it is sinning against God. There is also the added benefit of not having more consequences to deal with on top of the difficulties we’re already facing.
Why rely on money that comes and goes? Why rely on people who are as prone to sin as we are? Why rely on ourselves and feed our pride? Why rely on all these things first when our Father in Heaven, who created all things, who loves us beyond what we can comprehend; is waiting for us to turn to Him? God wants us to rely on Him because He knows that He is more reliable than anything else in our lives.
If we cannot trust God to help us overcome the trials of this life; if we cannot trust Him to strengthen us and provide for us, then how can we trust Him to take care of us in the next life? If we say we believe that He sent Jesus to die for us so that we can avoid an eternity in Hell; how then can we say we don’t trust Him for the things that are not eternal? How can we trust Him with our souls but not with our lives?
Trust God. Do what He says. Turn to Him, not only in times of trouble, but for everything in your life. Seek His direction and purpose. Live for Him and not for yourself. Trust that God is with us always.
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 14:27
