Time after time after time, while growing up, it seemed like my family gave so much to others only to be stabbed in the back or used and then tossed to the side once needs were met. I’ve had people in my life that said all the right things. You know, things like “I care. You can trust me. I’m here for you.”
I became a girl who both trusted easily yet put up walls quickly. I don’t even know if that makes sense. I WANTED to trust people. I WANTED to be accepted and loved and have loyal friendships. Yet, I have seen so many times when that trust is stepped on, ripped up, and thrown without a second thought.
Is it asking too much to be able to trust someone? Why should we take chances? Why even make an effort?
This week in my devotional time, it was about the time leading up to and including the crucifixion of Christ. He had spent his WHOLE life giving to others. Healing them. Listening to them. Encouraging them. Providing. Leading. Speaking. He never faltered in his mission of ministering, despite knowing in the end so many would turn against him. He knew this would be the end result, yet he continued his mission. He continued to offer friendship and trust. He didn’t give up or walk away when it got hard.
As humans, we are selfish. Even in our desires to help others, we have all had times of selfishness and being ignorant in our actions or lack thereof.
Do you know the story of the Exodus? Sometimes we don’t understand the “why” because we don’t see the big picture. We only see the way that makes sense to us but we don’t know what’s ahead.
In the wilderness, unbeknownst to them as to WHY they had to take the long way, the Israelites marched boldly. They had a cloud to guide them in the day and fire to guide by night. Both stayed in front of them. I mean, this story is SO GREAT! It keeps getting better!
The Lord tells them EXACTLY what to do. He told them to turn back and go camp by the sea. He knew it would make Pharaoh think he was winning but He also knew the end of the story.
Pharaoh and his army were closing in. The Israelites see them and begin worrying. Imagine if you’d been waiting for the promise of freedom to happen and just about the time you can practically TASTE it, the other foot starts to drop. How many times have you had that happen? A prayer of some sort, a dream, a desire starts to come true and BAM the story line pivots.
The Israelites saw the mighty hand of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians. They put their trust in him.
There’s more to the story after this, but I want talk about how our lack of faith doesn’t change who God is! We can choose not to trust him, we can try to think we know how something should go or turn out, but it won’t change who He is.
I don’t know about you, but there have been times I have prayed for answers to my questions. Prayed for help. Prayed for healing. Prayed for direction. Prayed for wisdom. Prayed for grace. Only, while sometimes I got those things answered, it hasn’t been every single time. I am preaching to the choir, here. But we can’t say we trust God in the good times and then question his authority and power when we don’t see the outcome we want in the time frame we expect.
The thing is, when you say you trust that doesn’t mean you trust in the outcome. You don’t trust for what you want. You trust EVEN IF. EVEN WHEN. EVEN THOUGH. Trusting doesn’t guarantee to have the ending you want. Trusting means that you follow where you are lead, you follow the pillar of cloud or fire, you follow in the wilderness, on dry ground, and without knowledge of always knowing what is coming.
God didn’t need the Israelites to show his power and glory. But he DID use them for it. He didn’t HAVE to provide but he made a promise. He held true to his word. He was trustworthy. He is always trustworthy. He never breaks a promise.
Friend, we don’t have to know it all. And that’s a GOOD THING! As a parent, I want the best for my children. I know my children trust me. That is a HUGE responsibility that I will likely mess up at some point, though unintentionally.
We may not see the pillar of cloud or fire. We may not see the jamming of the chariots. But we can trust that He will not let us down. He never has. He never will. As Moses said “we need not be afraid. The Lord will fight for us; we need only be still.”
What is it that you’re struggling with today? When you are afraid. When you are crying out in pain. You can rest in the knowledge that EVEN THEN, He loves you. He is with you. He is a faithful friend.
You’re not perfect. But He is. This will be an episode that I, myself, will likely have to listen to many times.
If you’re struggling in your homeschool, be still.
If you’re struggling in your health, be still.
If you’re struggling with anger, bitterness, confusion, doubt, faith, be still.
The Israelites weren’t perfect. They whined, complained, doubted. They felt all the things we have felt. But EVEN THEN. God was there in the middle of it all and He’s in the middle of it all with you.
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Email me: courtney@imperfectlypollyanna.com
