Enduring Trust

Brennen Manning wrote a book some years ago called, Ruthless Trust. He says it all started when he was muddling along and talking to his spiritual director. After listening to Brennan's thoughts on why he was not growing in grace and becoming more like Jesus, his spiritual director told him, “Brennan, you don’t need more insights into the faith, you’ve got enough insights to last you three hundred years. The most urgent need in your life is to trust what you have received.” He goes on to say this: “I can state unequivocally that childlike surrender in trust is the defining spirit of authentic discipleship. And I would add that the supreme need in most of our lives is often the most overlooked—namely, the need for an uncompromising trust in the love of God.”

Wise words, and words that come across loud and clear in Psalm 125. This psalm is about Enduring Trust. Trust in what God has done for us. It is a realistic psalm for those of us who are disciples of Jesus. It is incredibly honest about our proneness to doubt and to be anxious and paralyzed by fear at the circumstances of life in a fallen world, where evil is always lurking. We need that honesty, “The confident, robust faith that we desire and think is our destiny is qualified by recurrent insecurities. Singing Psalm 125 is one way Christians have to develop confidence and banish insecurity. The psalm makes its mark not by naively whistling when life is dark, but by honestly facing the typical insecurities that beset us and putting them in their place.” (Eugene Peterson, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction)

Easier said than done! This Sunday we will ponder what it means to trust God, when our trust is continually threatened by the insecurities of the world. I confess, I have emotionally been taken over the hurdles this week as I ponder my own fears and doubts. So I hope to see you Sunday as we take an honest look at how we can trust God, even when things seem to be falling apart.

 

Blessings,

 

Jim