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Trusting God
Meyer in his book “The way into the holiest” reveals to us of the rest that He gives to us if we trust in Him.
“We are not summoned to the heavy slumber which follows over-taxing, nor to inaction or indolence but to the rest which is possible amidst swift activity and strenuous work; to perfect equilibrium between the outgoings and the incomings of life; to a contented heart; to peace that passeth all understanding; to the repose of the will in the will of God; and to the calm of the depths of the nature which are undisturbed by the hurricanes which sweep the surface, and urge forward the mighty waves. This rest is holding out both its hands to the weary souls of men throughout the ages, offering its shelter as a harbor from the storms of life.”
For many years I yearned for this peace and tranquility because life was clearly impossible to go on. I am sure you know what I had gone through in the last ten years studying so as to get a post-graduate degree, taking care of my widowed and sick mother and at the same time earning a living to keep the family running. Sometimes I despaired over life itself. But the Lord spoke to me. He told me that unless I had this rest or trust that overcame the deepest stresses that destroy and mar life; He will not be able to use me in His kingdom. And so I prayed to Him, “Lord endow me your presence like oil that steadies a raging sea, show me your Kingdom attitudes that I need to absorb into the fabric of my life and give me wisdom on how I can appropriate this rest.” Today, in these early hours of the morning, I would like to share with you some of the lessons that I have learned.
The first lesson is that of the attitude of trust. Job possessed wonderful attributes in the midst of His trials. His character was made in the forges of suffering and formed when they were beaten to remove the dross that weakened it. Job’s suffering was used by God to purify and cleanse until he was fit for the Kingdom of God. While all other props were knocked out from under him, he found that one prop that firmed him and cleansed him. This was God the ground of his being who was all that he needed.
In my opinion, Job 13:15 gives us the clue to Job’s faith. A faith that had enabled him to appropriate God’s power in his life and thus made him strong enough to withstand all that life could throw at him. Although he went through the most horrendous suffering, yet he found comfort that God knew best and would do the best for him. Job13: 15…though he slay me, yet will I hope in Him. I will surely defend my ways to His face. What Job was saying was that in the face of all that had happened he need not fear what life would bring for God is sovereign and knows what he is doing. If God chose to slay him, he would yet trust in God. As Swindoll in his book “For those who hurt” puts it, “Job understood that God allowed his suffering because it was exactly as God designed it for his good. What a tremendous testimony of faith. Job could trust and he looked forward to the day when God will tell him, the reasons for all these sufferings. As for now, God knew what was best and that was enough. This verse reminds us that all of life, that is our families, our possessions; everything that is of value should be turned over to Him, because they belong to Him. And when it seems that the Lord would slay us, we would still yet hope in Him, As Habakkuk 3:17 says, “Though the fig tree does not bud, and there are no grapes on the vine, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. Yes, we hope in the Lord, and have joy in the Lord because His presence is all we need. If we lose all it is well, for what is lost is nothing compared to the immeasurable value of His presence and love in our lives.
The second lesson I learned of how to rest in Him is in the prayer of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. While Job’s faith came through after undergoing suffering and loss, Jesus faith was founded upon God before he went through suffering. In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus wrestled with His impending execution. He knew exactly how he was going to die and the suffering and anguish he will experience. Yet he did not flinch but prayed this prayer, ”Lord not as I will, but as you will (Matthew 26: 39)”. Jesus’ faith and trust was founded upon the will of God. He did not try to back away from His suffering when he found out that he was to be crucified but readily submitted to the Father’s will. Submitting to God’s will was the key to Christ’s peace during the terrible days of His passion. He rested in the Father’s will and that was enough.
I believe that as God begins to mould our lives according to His great purpose, we have only two choices. Either it is to submit to His molding or to resist. Let us brothers, put ourselves onto the potter’s wheel and let us submit to His molding so that we will come forth as fit vessels ready for His use. Sometimes, the molding of our lives is in the hands of other’s. It could be with an organization such as the mission, the Church or even under evil men. If at such times when we find that this is what the Lord wants us to go through, then it is time for us to remember that God is in control and totally sovereign over all events in our lives. So let us pray this prayer of the Lord, “Yet not as I will but as you will.” As Swindoll aptly puts it again, “Can’t you see my friend that God is trying to teach you the all important lesson of submission to Him – total dependence on His infinite wisdom and unbounded love? He will not let up until you give up, believe me. Who knows better than God that case–hardened independence within you?”
I believe that when we come to Him in these two ways, not fighting Him but trusting and submitting to His sovereign will God will put in our lives, the faith that enables us to rest in Him. And in resting in Him we shall have joy, peace, and patience. And in having patience, gentleness and kindness and love.
Choose thou for me, Thy way not mine, O, Lord, However dark it be! Lead me by thine own hand; Choose out my path for me. I dare not choose my lot: I would not, if I might; Choose thou for me, my God, So shall I walk aright The Kingdom that I seek Is thine, so let the way That leads to it be thine, Else I must surely stray. Take thou my cup, and it With joy or sorrow filled, As best to thee may seem; Choose thou my good and ill. Choose thou for me my friend, My sickness, or my health; Choose thou my cares for me My poverty, or wealth. No mine, not mine the choice, In things both great and small; Be thou my guide, my strength, My wisdom and my all.
(Horatio Bonar) |
