In uncertain times we often vacillate between trusting God, other people, or ourselves. Only to find increased anxiety and a sense of disillusionment. I will often trust God initially, but when things fail to resolve on my timetable, I suddenly begin shifting allegiance. Playing out in a spiritual shell game with no clear winner. In the uncertainty of your days where are you placing your trust?
When held prisoner by anxiety in uncertain times, we impatiently place our trust wherever we imagine we will find immediate relief or the outcome we desire.
Uncertainty triggered anxiety, clouds our perception of God’s Presence already with us, prompting rash decisions and misplaced trust. But a truth focused perspective shifts us into a place of restful trust where we no longer rely on fear driven reactivity.
placing your trust in the temporal
Placing your trust in anything apart from God, results in trusting the temporal.
Though fueled by the fear of the unseen, anxiety relies on sight. As a result, when driven by anxiety we choose placing our trust in things we can see, thinking if we see them, we control them.
Yet we end up disillusioned, adding frustration to our anxiety when our expected outcome fails to materialize.
Though we live in the temporal realm, we have no control over circumstances within its borders.
Only a willingness to relinquish our finite sight to God’s infinite sight brings the peace we ultimately need.
Where are you placing your trust? In the temporal or the eternal?
placing your trust in god
“For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.”
Recently feeling the overwhelm of the uncertainty in the world all around me, added to the escalation of uncertainty in my personal life, the Lord invited me into a season of spiritual recalibration..
A time of stepping back, releasing, and refocusing on making God a priority by:
- Desiring Him. (Psalm 42:1, Psalm 27:4)
- Delighting in Him. (Psalm 37:4, Isaiah 61:10)
- Depending on Him. (Psalm 62:5-8)
Accomplishing the shift to a more God focused attitude allows me to more readily trust Him when faced with uncertainty in my life. But how do I move from knowledge to practicality?
Living in the Presence of God
Learning to trust God in the uncertain times of life, becomes second nature when we learn to trust Him in the everyday.
The results of my recent biopsy illustrate the point in a rather practical way. Of three large growths suspected of malignancy, two were benign; while a third revealed a rare hypocellular composition, of which it is not possible to know for sure either way.
Positioning me in a place of trusting God with an answer not possible to obtain.
From a place of unwavering trust, we learn acceptance of both blessings and trials by living out everyday trust in God’s Presence.
- Trusting daily. Trusting daily must come before trusting in trial. Staying in step with the Spirit, keeps us present focused on God’s agenda. (Galatians 5:25)
- Trusting in prosperity and adversity. When things move in our favor, we must trust God’s goodness in provision with humble gratitude. When challenges come, we must still trust in God’s goodness, while trading fear for faith, bringing our afflictions before the Throne. (Job 1:21, Philippians 4:12)
- Trusting in daily burdens. We all have daily burdens to bear: those chronic issues, or hardships which the Lord bids us carry daily. Bearing those afflictions with a humble, submissive attitude glorifies God and displays our trust in His sovereign ways. (1 Peter 5:10, 2 Corinthians 4:17)
- Trusting in daily labors. Whether we labor at home, for an employer, or for the church, we ultimately labor for the Lord. Filtering all we do through this truth, we sanctify our labors, trusting all outcomes to God. (Colossians 3:23, Philippians 4:13)
where are you placing your trust?
Trusting God with the uncertainty of our lives comes only from making God a priority in our daily lives before trials come knocking.
Knowing Him in a vibrant, intimate relationship creates a safe place of shelter when the storms rage.
But the choice is yours.
If your priority is your own agenda, expected outcomes, or comfort, your relationship with God will seem but a brittle reed in a sea of crushing waves.
Choosing instead to desire, delight, and depend on Him, living out practical trust every day, the reminder of His all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-loving ways bind your heart to His in all circumstances.
Where are you placing your trust today?
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Donna, I love this message. It’s so timely these days. Your words encouraged and uplifted me today. Sometimes when my anxiety is running amuck suddenly stop and think I need to reel myself back in so I can focus on God. Then I get to thinking I didn’t reel myself in God did. Then I ask him to help me flip my thoughts to think about a situation or circumstance through his eyes. It’s really something when I can focus focus from his view.
I really appreciate you sharing this encouragement with Sweet Tea & Friends this month dear friend.
Paula, I praise God you found encouragement here today! I know what you mean about anxiety, it can really keep our minds so busy we cannot even hear God’s voice. But even if we can’t hear Him, He hears us when we cry out and calms and settles us. Hugs to you my sweet friend!
Donna, your words about playing a spiritual shell game reflect a lot of my life at times. I find that unless I remain firmly in His presence–just as you’ve mentioned–anxiety crowds out hope. Thank you for the wisdom you’ve shared here.
Tammy, anxiety can catch us off guard, I find mine comes in often in a more subtle way, so I am definitely working on staying grounded in God’s Presence now!
This really sticks with me, Donna: “Trusting daily must come before trusting in trial.” I’m thinking about the habit of daily trusting in light of the emotional roller coasters that come with trials. We can’t avoid them, but perhaps the practice of daily trust holds us steady through them? I’m glad two of the three biopsies were benign, but I’m sorry the third one is impossible to know. Clear answers are so much more comforting … you remain in my prayers, friend.
Lois, the thought of learning to trust daily before stepping into trusting in trial, really hit home for me. How can we really trust God with the big stuff, when we refuse to trust Him with our daily walk? I think you hit it, a practice of daily trust holds us steady through trials, because we are already so tuned to turning to God.
Donna, what an important question to ask ourselves – where am I placing my trust? I love your recalibration to Desiring Him, Delighting in Him, Depending on Him. So uplifting – thank you!
Thank you, Deborah, I find myself asking the question of where I am placing my trust more and more these days, which is a good thing!
trusting daily. yes, Donna! not once and done, but day in and out. therein lies our faith walk and our spiritual growth
Oh yes, Linda, every day when I open my eyes I must ready my heart to trust the One who walks with me!
While its good news about two, the uncertainity about the third result Donna leaves you pressing into the Lord.
I love your following statement;
“the Lord invited me into a season of spiritual recalibration.”
As you know ‘Season’ is my theme for this year so that stood out to me, I understand ‘being’ with the Lord in a season of spiritual refreshment in uncertainity with health issues.
Blessings sweet friend, praying for a good outcome.
Jennifer
Thank you, my dear friend Jennifer! A season of spiritual recalibration is like a breath of fresh air to my soul! I love the word “season”, as it has so many meanings! But though difficult at times, every season with the Lord provides abundant refreshment!
We truly live in His Presence, Donna, and that is the only place of unexplainable peace and rest. Rejoicing with you in the two good reports, and praying for wisdom, and the grace to walk with Him regarding the third report.
Thank you, my sweet friend! Remembering to rest in His Presence truly helps me stay focused on peace.
In these times of moral rust,
ain’t much of which to grab aholt,
and so I put my faith and trust
in God above and Colonel Colt,
for I am just a simple man,
no learned tomes for me.
I know the Father has a plan,
and I am gonna be
up for it, each every day
(we all gots to fulfill our roles),
but anyone gets in my way,
I’ll fulfill him full of holes,
’cause even Christ the Holy Lord
said sell your cloak and get a sword.
Andrew! I love your poem! Sometimes I definitely forsake the simple for the slavery of “over thinking”. I love the way you convey your staunch determination to trust God come what may!!