I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with two long-time girlfriends, and by “long-time” I mean Jr. high / high school. That was…..a while ago. =) We reminisced about our church youth group days and the teenage passion with which we served God. We were absolutely sure that God was not only trustworthy, but that our lives would always reflect his goodness and providence – no question about it!
The thing is…..none of our lives have turned out exactly as our teenage dreams imagined. There’s been illness….broken relationships….grief and loss….not at all what we were so sure would come with a life devoted to living close to God. So……what happened? We all agreed God had been present throughout all the twists and turns of our lives, that we had grown in faith and trust that God’s grace was always sufficient – and that we were so grateful for that – it’s just that life doesn’t look as we expected…
During this season of Lent my thoughts are so often turned toward the relationship Jesus had with those who believed he was the promised Messiah. He was misunderstood from the very beginning, by literally everyone. He taught of a kingdom where the poor would become rich and the meek would inherit the earth, and people followed him! At least at first….
But when it became evident Jesus wasn’t really going to focus on their current prosperity and power, many of these same people – some he had grown to know and love – began to fade from his company until only a trusted few remained. Even his closest friends – those he called disciples – struggled with the meaning of his teachings. They loved him. They tried to understand – they really did, but they just couldn’t see beyond their own expectations.
I would love to know what those early conversations between Jesus’ close friends were like following his death. They had committed absolutely everything to following this man they believed would be the savior of their day….and then he was gone. I have a feeling it sounded a little like my youth group sisters and I. Things certainly hadn’t turned out the way they imagined – none of them “got” what they bargained for when they committed to follow Christ! But they discovered, as can we, that Jesus isn’t really gone from us, but his Spirit remains in even greater love and power than before. Not as expected…..but full and faithful all the same.
Some day I will be part of that “great cloud of witnesses” the Bible speaks of, and I will add my story to theirs; the story of a life lived as a follower of Jesus Christ. Not a perfect life – but my life. I can’t tell you how I know Jesus can be trusted – but I do believe with all my heart he can. I feel him at work in my heart’s healing, I see the beginnings of a sunrise where I was sure there would forever be dark clouds, and I hear him sing over me every day. Do I get answers to all the “why” questions I fling at God? No….but do I believe God holds me through the flinging of them? Yes!
Trusting the One who is The Way….
“Trust In You”
Lauren Daigle
I lay each one down at Your feet
Every moment of my wandering
Never changes what You see
I’ve tried to win this war I confess
My hands are weary I need Your rest
Mighty Warrior, King of the fight
No matter what I face, You’re by my side
When You don’t move the mountains I’m needing You to move
When You don’t part the waters I wish I could walk through
When You don’t give the answers as I cry out to You
I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in You!
Truth is, You know what tomorrow brings
There’s not a day ahead You have not seen
So, in all things be my life and breath
I want what You want Lord and nothing less
When You don’t move the mountains I’m needing You to move
When You don’t part the waters I wish I could walk through
When You don’t give the answers as I cry out to You
I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in You!
You are my strength and comfort
You are my steady hand
You are my firm foundation; the rock on which I stand
Your ways are always higher
Your plans are always good
There’s not a place where I’ll go, You’ve not already stood
When You don’t move the mountains I’m needing You to move
When You don’t part the waters I wish I could walk through
When You don’t give the answers as I cry out to You
I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in You!
I will trust in You!
I will trust in You!
I will trust in You!
