For God so love the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish, but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. (John 3: 16-17)

I realized recently that I have trust issues.  And it’s not so much with humans, them I trust, them I turn to when the road gets rough. It’s God I don’t trust. Don’t get me wrong, I believe, I pray, but I don’t completely trust. I hold back when all the chips are down. Instead of turning to God, totally relying on Him to bring me through, I hold back, I turn to humans.

Here is an example: I have a weight problem. I know I have one and there are things I should do to lose the weight. Anyway, each morning I step on the scale to check my weight. Most of the time I thank God for whatever I see on that scale and move on with the day. Sometimes though I am not so thankful, I don’t like what I see and after taking a few steps away, I return to the scale and step on it again, hoping for another answer. It dawned on me the other day when I did this, that I wasn’t trusting God’s path. I kept looking for a different outcome.

I believe this lack of trust, comes from another issue that haunts me. I have this expectation that if I trust God, He will do it all in a great show, like the Moses and the burning bush, like the weight will just fall off like snow falling off a roof. I shouldn’t have to do any work, it should just happen, because I ask for it and it should happen now.

And now for the cherry on top of the sundae, when things don’t happen my way, I blame God, berate myself and use this as an excuse not to move on, not to do what I know I should be doing. I get discouraged. I don’t have the courage and trust necessary to do the work and to follow the path.

So what do I want you to take from all my ramblings? Well here it is I am weak without God. I need Him by my side to traverse the trials set before me. However, He won’t do it all. Not that He couldn’t do it all, but he won’t. He wants us to have faith, to trust completely, to wait on His time. There may be no burning bushes, no bolts of lightning, no bats upside the head, but if we, I trust, then someday there will be results. But, it has to be my whole trust, my complete faith, no holding back, no stepping on the scale expecting different results.

Most loving and patient Jesus, thank you for all the gifts you have given me in spite of my lack of trust. Help me to trust you, to let go of my fears, to let you guide me. I know there will be work for me, but with you by my side we will someday achieve all that you have planned for me. Forgive my lack of trust, my fear and my doubt.  Lord Jesus bring me to the fullness of your grace. This I pray through your merciful and gracious Son, Jesus. Amen.

I will instruct you and show you the way you should walk, give you counsel and watch over you. (Psalm 32:8)

Another easy request from God and yet we continue to worry, to get angry, to turn from the one being that will get us through it. Or we foolishly try to solve someone else’s trials and fail, make the situation worse or at the very least make no improvement.

I was doing that this morning, trying to tell another family member the way to go, how to find their way out of a dark place. I was only frustrated when the response I got was less than favorable. I turned to prayer while berating myself for messing up again. Why didn’t I have the right words, why wouldn’t they listen to me?

Lightning bolt time. It’s not up to me to solve their problems, or bring them back from the brink of despair. Only God can do that, only He should do that. I’m not God; I have my own trials to face. I need to trust God that He will take care of it all, my issues, others issues.

So once again, the answer is the same and I just need to listen for God’s lead. Focus on His answers for me and pray about the rest.

Most awesome and loving Jesus, thank you for all you have given me, the trials as well as the joys. Thank you for answering my prayers, in your way and your time. Help me to focus on my life in You and let You answer and solve others as You see fit. This I pray through your most gracious and merciful Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Pray unceasingly. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Until now you have not asked anything in my name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete. (John 16:24)

Sounds easy. Why do we make it so hard? Why do we refuse to turn to God and ask for what we need, what we want?

You realized God is waiting patiently for you to ask. Through His son, Jesus, He has even given us permission, and yet we still resist. What is it that makes us so stubborn? For me, it’s giving up control and admitting that I can’t do it on my own. I suspect that it’s the same for many of you.

Another thing that keeps me from seeking God is time, no time to pray, no time to wait on God’s answer. We live in an instant world. We receive our news instantly, we have fast food and entertainment where we don’t have to think. We expect God to be the same. We don’t take time to pray and reflect.  We live life in fast forward.

Have you ever sat back and considered all the time wasted making excuses to not pray, to not ask God? Even a small portion of that time could be sacrificed. Do you realize that just saying the name “Jesus” is an act of prayer. Yep, that simple, that quick. Say it, go ahead, “Jesus.” We have just prayed.

We all have time for prayer. It can be as simple as saying Jesus or offering your day up to God before you get out of bed in the morning. Funny thing though, when you start to slow down and take the time, you want to do more of it. You find yourself wanting to spend more time with God, to rely on Him, to have Him in your life all the time.

So go ahead and start. Oops, that’s right, I forgot, we already started. Enjoy the journey.

In the name of the most awesome Jesus, Amen.

God Bless,

Chris