Trust

                                                              Proverbs 3:5-6
                                            Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
                                         And lean not on your own understanding;
                                             In all your ways acknowledge Him,
                                                 And He shall direct your path.

"In life, it is not as important to understand as to trust." These were words written in my Mom's journal as she was watching her oldest daughter struggle with the horrible disease of cancer. Today would be Mom's 90th birthday. She ran home to our Father's House two years ago, excited to see my sister once again. She knew where she was going, and that Barb would be waiting for her.

I often think of Mom's strong faith and how it carried her through so many hard days. Never did it waver, nor did she question. She simply trusted her Heavenly Father, assured of His love for her.

The Lord has impressed on my heart so strongly that He always has a plan, and with that plan He has a purpose. We simply need to trust. So often we want to understand the why of things happening in our lives. Our Father tells us, "Lean not on your own understanding, but acknowledge Me." As you put your faith in Him, He will direct your path. This is a promise we can walk in, and in our walking hold tight to our Father's hand, allowing Him to lead. As we lean on Him, even in the midst of our hardest days, we will find a peace we can't explain.

                      The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
                      will guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
                                                                           Philippians 4:7

May we be willing to let go and let God have His way in our life. There is purpose in all He allows. It is not as important to understand as it is to trust. He is our Father and He loves us. May that be enough.


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I Have Learned

                                                                  Philippinas 4:11 

                                                 Not that I speak in regard to need, 

                                           for I have learned in whatever state I am 

                                                                   to be content. 

As I read this Scripture, I was taken back by the fact Paul, who had been through more than we can fathom, did not live in the midst of his needs, but learned to live with contentment regardless of his circumstances. 

                                          Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned,

                                          three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have 

                                          been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of water, in

                                          perils of robbers, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilder-

                                          ness, in perils in the sea, in perils among the brethren, in

                                          weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and

                                          thirst, in fasting often, in cold and nakedness ----

                                                                                                 2 Corinthians 11:25-27 

How could Paul be content in the midst of such misery? Why wasn't he bitter, depressed, or scared of  what the future might hold? I wonder if it was because he remembered who held him in the palms of His hands? 

                                          See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; 

                                          Your walls are continually before Me.       Isaiah 49:16 

Possibly, it was because Paul no longer lived for himself. Instead, his life had become about living for Christ, and Christ alone. 

                                           For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 

                                                                                                             Philippians 1:21

Paul tells us he learned to be content; it did not come natural to him. How easy it is for us to succumb to fear and desperation when our life seems to be falling apart. When we feel we can't go on, may we  be like Paul and remember who holds our life in His hands. We, too, can learn to be content regardless of our circumstances. The same God who held Paul holds us. He won't let us go. 

                                            The LORD is your keeper;

                                            The LORD is your shade at your right hand. 

                                            The LORD shall preserve your going out and your 

                                            coming in;

                                            From this time forth, and even forevermore. 

                                                                                                             Psalm 121:5,8 

                           

                                     

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