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So much life has happened in the year 2020 in our nation.
Coronavirus struck the U.S. and caused widespread panic, fear, and changes that have touched every area of life. The way things operate now is incredibly different than it was just a handful of months ago.
In that time, I have come to wonder what good comes from such devastation? What is God doing and why was it necessary for it to be done this way? Perhaps the easiest way to explain it is that this is God’s story, and this is the best way to tell it. God’s plans have always allowed for critical and desperate situations, but that does not get to the root of why? This could just be a personal revelation, or it could be the reason entirely, but I believe it’s as “simple” as trusting God.
“He is not afraid of bad news, his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord” (Psalm 112:7).
God does not want us to be a people marked by crippling fear, he wants us to be a people marked by trust.
“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” (Isaiah 43:2-3).
In the midst of Coronavirus, our family was also in the middle of buying and selling homes. While walking through the home buying process, there were several turns and hurdles we had to navigate to ensure that selling our older home and buying the new home would work out. It seemed pretty touch and go depending on which turn we were making at the time, but there were a few occasions where it looked like it would not work out.
I don’t know how God tends to deal with most people, but the way He tends to deal with me is by allowing me to walk through a process, knowing I will try to be sovereign over my own situation until I finally exhaust and relinquish my control. Once I’m in that place, there is peace. There is a trust that whatever God’s will is for this situation is best. There’s a relief in knowing that He is God and I am not, and I thank Him for that.
I would make a terrible god.
So, my question to my husband was this: “I’m now in a place where I’m ok with whatever outcome we arrive at. But if we don’t end up moving, what was the point of this season we just walked through?” His answer: “God will always allow you to walk through situations that will lead you to trusting Him more.”
God will always allow you to walk through situations that will lead you to trusting Him more.
The more I think about that, the more I identify with that situation, especially with my own kids. Many times, after suggesting better ways to do things, I will allow my boys to play things out in their own way. I let them do this so they will know they can trust me. I can usually see the harm, the bad, the unfortunate circumstances that are ahead and I need them to trust that my words are truthful and intended for their good. And I believe God is no different.
Job 13:15 says, “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.” God doesn’t need us to figure it out, he needs us to trust that he has worked it out on our behalf already.
God doesn’t need us to figure it out, he needs us to trust that he has worked it out on our behalf already.
What does it mean to trust the Lord? I think it means pressing into God’s understanding and not your own (Proverbs 3:5). But what consequence comes from not pressing in? Is not trusting God a sin?
John Piper suggests that anything that is not from faith is a sin, so I believe so. Then what is the root of all sin? My father in law would say it’s unbelief; and I think that is simple and well-said. So, if we struggle with unbelief, we will not be in a position to trust that God loves us enough to do right by us. To not leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6).
We must be a people who can humbly submit to God, to confess that we do believe, and to ask for help in areas of unbelief (Psalm 144:1). The scriptures command and encourage us to trust.
If there is no trust, how can there be love? And since 1 John 4:8 tells us that God is love, then we know that loving God means trusting God.
“Do not fear, only believe.” (Mark 5:36)