My life from age twelve asked, “Can I trust you?” I asked myself this of every human being I encountered, particularly males. Everyone became suspect, even God. I fear I am not alone in my questioning. You have been hurt, have you not? Your trust has been shaken by sickness, circumstance, or sin in the fallen created order. Your trust has been broken, your faith shaken, by something or someone outside yourself. I am here to tell you we have a common enemy. He is known by many names and he moves in every social circle through every race of people from time immemorial, wreaking havoc, sewing lies, igniting fires fueled by the flames of hell itself. He is a liar. He cannot be trusted. But God can.
I have a wonderful father. He adores me. Even now, in his seventies, he proves it by word and deed. He still provides for me, a living, breathing picture of my Heavenly Father, God. He does battle for me in prayer. He works alongside me, helping me do for my children and grandchildren things I can’t do alone. He challenges my husband by loving my mother well and he has always invested in him as I now see my husband invest in our boys, but even he came under suspicion after one person, a pastor, abused a sacred trust. All men are invariably human, intrinsically fallible. It is our nature, what it means to be human. This does not excuse personal responsibility, and it does not justify sin. It is simply a fact.
“Sin entered the world because one man sinned.
And death came because of sin.
Everyone sinned, so death came to all people.”
Romans 5:12 NIRV
https://bible.com/bible/110/rom.5.12.NIRV
For years I struggled to answer the question on my own. Through adolescence, through college, even into adulthood, into marriage, and into motherhood. Why did this happen? Why me? Why, God? The bigger question doubt of any kind prompts is can I trust God? Even those who don’t acknowledge the existence and Lordship of the Almighty know that there are greater powers at work. Scripture agrees.
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us.
They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.
So God created human beings in his own image.
In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”
Genesis 1:1, 26-27 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/gen.1.1-27.NLT
“In the beginning the Word already existed.
The Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He existed in the beginning with God.
God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.
The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him.
He came to his own people, and even they rejected him.
So the Word became human and made his home among us.
He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.
And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.”
John 1:1-5, 9-11, 14 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.1.1-14.NLT
“Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.
He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth.
He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.
Everything was created through him and for him.
He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.”
Colossians 1:15-17 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/col.1.16-17.NLT
“For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”
Ephesians 6:12 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/eph.6.12.NLT
“You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God.
Good for you!
Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.”
James 2:19 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jas.2.19.NLT
Scripture speaks of spiritual forces in the heavens. Inhabiting the spaces we cannot see, evil exists, but there is also good because there is God. We live in the midst of a war that has been raging since before the world was created. To deny it is foolishness.
“Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins.
You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world.
He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.
All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature.
By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.
But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead.
(It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)
For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.
So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.
God saved you by his grace when you believed.
And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.
Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
For we are God’s masterpiece.
He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
Ephesians 2:1-10 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/eph.2.1-10.NLT
“Think of it this way.
If a father dies and leaves an inheritance for his young children, those children are not much better off than slaves until they grow up, even though they actually own everything their father had.
They have to obey their guardians until they reach whatever age their father set.
And that’s the way it was with us before Christ came.
We were like children; we were slaves to the basic spiritual principles of this world.
But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.
God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.
And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”
Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.”
Galatians 4:1-7 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/gal.4.1-7.NLT
If anyone has reason to hate the church, to turn away from the church, I do. One incident haunted me for decades before I was able to forgive and begin moving on but that was only the beginning of the hurt I’ve experienced at the hand of the deceiver working through people who claim to represent God. The enemy infects even those who call themselves redeemed. None of us are immune to his deceit. Why else would God provide us with armor to defend against the fiery arrows of the evil one? We are not fighting enemies of flesh and blood. Every battle is spiritual in nature and understanding that changes the way we fight. The church is the body of Christ in the world, united under the banner of God, quickened by His Voice in the power of His Spirit. The church is not one individual. It is not an organization or an institution or even a religion. The Church is one body, made up of many parts, many people, human, fallen, but being made new and when Christ is head the body, we, His true followers, obediently become His hands and feet.
God’s Word, our sword, our only defensive weapon, is full of reminders of His faithfulness in the face of doubt and fear, rejection, disobedience, and outright defiance. He is ever faithful and true because it is His nature. He alone is good and brings good from intended evil. Consider Joseph, favorite of his father, favored by God with a vision of times to come. Immature, he bragged to his brothers and his father and his mother, unaware of the circumstances that awaited him before the fulfillment of his dreams. Consider Paul, the persecutor of Christians who would be persecuted for the sake of Christ while powerfully testifying to Jesus as King, Lord, and God.
Raising my children, even more so now that they are grown, I’ve had opportunities to practice the trust that comes with faith. I have availed myself of the weapons of God to tear down strongholds from my knees. In those times I must ask myself the question- do I trust God? Will I trust Him? I know I can, but trusting is a choice. I’ve chosen to trust and I’ve been burned before, but never by God. Surviving cancer reminded me that life is but a breath, a vapor. There is not a second to lose. Every minute is a trust, every breath a gift. God is fully present with me in every moment. He always has been and He always will be because He is omnipresent- existing outside of time, aware of and active in every moment as if it were the now.
“And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him.
Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him.
Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.
Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.
For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.
So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.”
Colossians 2:6-10 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/col.2.10.NLT
“So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives.
Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.
The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants.
And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires.
These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.
Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.”
Galatians 5:16-17, 24-25 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/gal.5.16-25.NLT
When questions come as they surely will, when doubts arise, take them to Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith. You will never be asked to endure what He endured in your struggle against sin and He is victorious. His victory is ours by faith.
“Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.”
Hebrews 12:28 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/heb.12.28.NLT
Silence JWLKRS Worship https://youtu.be/7sdWIhnXGa0?si=STc3DOwsX0xBYyFv
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