Lydia Brownback, in her little book Contentment, adds this to our discussion on trust yesterday: "It is possible to desire God so much that everything else pales in comparison. Such a yearning rarely happens overnight, but it can happen hour by hour, day by day. Each little difficulty gives us an opportunity to develop it. . . . Each and every time something threatens to steal our peace, we can stop what we are doing and open that raw, painful place to God. . . . We do well to sit with his Word open before us, asking him to reveal himself in our struggle. The more we see, the more we will want. Before we know it, we will find ourselves wanting him even more than we want our problems solved. He himself will be the peace we have been wanting all along." (pp. 56-57)

Isn't that good?

Jean

Having been in a tight place of late, I am confronted by the question "What does it mean to trust God?" Surely I'm not trusting Him when I am expecting Him to do what I want. Nor when I believe that He knows what is best in a given situation, but then again, so do I. Nor again when I tell Him to have His way, and then get frustrated that it's not the way I would have done it. Ever feel like that? We tend to have a very self-centered definition of trust. At least I do.

What, then, is trust? Have you ever noticed that real trust, the kind that lets God do whatever He wants because we know He is good and kind and righteous and smart, hurts? It's ripping out of our hearts the deeply-embedded wishes for our loved ones and handing them over . . . and then watching what He does, with thankful hearts. Ouch. I can't do that without Him, and I suspect, you can't either. Do you trust me? Honestly, Lord, no. You know that I do not. Help me in my unbelief.

It would help if we had an inkling of what kind of God we are attempting to trust. Psalm 103 tells us. All of God's Word tells us, because that's why He gave it--to reveal Himself to us so we might trust Him. When we are struggling with trusting God, we need to run, not walk, to the nearest Bible and hear what He has to say about Himself. Is He a God that can be trusted? Read Job 38-41, and especially 42:1-6. Is He a God who loves our loved ones? Read Psalm 103 (again--it's good!), Psalm 139, and Ephesians 1. Is He powerful enough to help? Read Psalm 29. Does He even want to help? Read Romans 8:31-39.

And then hand it all over. Make the cut, rip it out, and hand it over. Oh sure, it hurts. Surgery without anesthesia always does. But it hurts less than carrying that rock of care and worry around in your head, throat, and chest endlessly.

And be free . . . free to do that to which God has really called you.

What are your stories of trusting God? And what can you add to these thoughts?
Jean Opelt

Welcome!

Hello, blog readers! The New Hope women's committee thought it might be time to enter the cyber-age with our very own blog. This could be an opportunity to share thoughts and words of encouragement from the Lord from our times in His Word, to listen to one another, and to offer prayers for each other. Add comments as you have them. Perhaps God will be glorified in our space here, and we will be challenged and encouraged.

Hebrews 10:24-25 admonishes us: "And let us consider how to stir one another up to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

May that be our ambition as we venture into cyberspace together!

Jean Opelt, for the women's committee