Trusting God...even when He's Still!

It's easy to trust God when life is wonderful...when the air is scented with the perfume of the flowers all around, when the sun is shining, when there is money in the bank, and when everything seems to be going our way. But how can we truly say that we trust God if our trust has not been tested...tested by blindness, tested by questions, tested by uncertainty? When all around turns dark, when we no longer see the flowers but only feel the thorns, when the waves and winds begin to howl? Will we still trust God then?

God's taken me over this road a few times in my life...and He's taking me there once again. Yet, my faith has never been stronger. I cannot see, but I know He leads the way...and I know all things will work together and make sense some day. And I will trust Him...even when He is still.

I just heard a powerful sermon the other day by one of my favorite speakers, Eric Ludy. If you know Eric, you know he speaks boldly and passionately for the Lord. This particular sermon was called "Gritted Teeth." If you haven't heard it, you need to hear it. Powerful encouragement from the Bible to "hold on" and grow even when we don't see God working in our lives. Let me share just a few highlights that really stood out to me from this powerful message.

There are Four Tests that God often brings us through to test our Faith...

1. The Syrophonecian Test: When God appears silent.

Based on Matt 15:22-28 a Syrophonecian woman (it's important because she wasn't a Jew or of the same faith of Jesus and the disciples) came to Jesus begging Him to heal her daughter. His initial response was SILENCE. "He answered her not a word..."

So, as Eric pointed out in his message, "What do we do when God answers us not a word? Do we look somewhere else? Do we give up and go away?? Or do we hold on, realizing that there is NO OTHER WAY...Jesus is the ONLY way?" This woman pressed on, and despite Jesus telling her that He hadn't come to save her, but the lost house of Israel, she pressed on. She would not give up. Was it because Jesus really didn't want to answer her prayer, was it to teach us a lesson that He wants to make things difficult for us? No! Jesus wanted to prove her faith...and she came through, even despite His silence. Her faith was honored. Why don't we persevere...why do we walk away so easily? Why don't we hold on?

The second test.

2. The Lazarus Test: When God appears to have forgotten.

This story occurs in John 11:1-44. Here we see the story of Lazarus. Jesus was notified that Lazarus was sick, and He loved Lazarus. They were friends. He told Martha and Mary not to worry because this sickness would not end in death. But Jesus tarried where he was. He did not go to Lazarus right away and so Lazarus died. You can just imagine the grief and pain in those sister's heart. "Did Jesus forget his promise? Why didn't He come?" When He did come, they wept again. "Jesus, he wouldn't have died if you'd been here....did you forget?" But Jesus hadn't forgotten. He was wanting to test their faith....and so He also tests ours as well. Sometimes He allows our plans, our dreams, our loved ones to die, so that He may prove us and build us....and also so that He can give us something better. Imagine the joy and testimony that this family had when Jesus brought Lazarus back to life. The same can be true for us. But will we still keep trusting...even when He is silent, even when He appears to have forgotten?? Even when we've had to spend days, weeks, months waiting...in the tomb?

3. The Walking on Water test: When the powers of the natural realm seem too powerful.

Here we see the famous story of Peter walking on water in Matt 14:28-30. Initially he moved forward in faith, and his faith in Jesus held him. But then he took his eyes off Jesus and he looked at the storms around, at the wind and the waves, and he began to question how this was possible. How often have we done the same? Jesus has taken us down a road of faith. We've seen Him work in the past, we've seen Him work even now. But our eyes are distracted by the storms around. The natural realm seems too powerful to be overcome? Will we trust Him even then? Or will we sink into discouragement and despair. It's too impossible, too difficult, God can't possibly get me out of this now? I've messed up too much, I've gone too far, it's hopeless now. Oh that we would keep our eyes on Jesus, to the only one that has power to still the waves and the sea. Oh that we would trust Him, even in the midst of the storms... He is still there, and He's more powerful....FAR MORE POWERFUL than any storm we may encounter.

4. The Final test is the Cross Test: When God seems to have failed

This is probably the hardest test of all. How do we explain to the world around us a faith in someone that seems to have failed? How do we continue to trust someone that seems to have not come through? Imagine the grief of the disciples at the cross when Jesus allowed Himself to be tortured, condemned and crucified. "You are the Messiah? Aren't' you....... aren't you?" You can almost hear them whisper through questioning tears. "How could you let them do this to you?"

I can imagine a lot of people will be asking themselves this question after this May 21st, 2011 is past...when Harold Camping's predictions of the "End of the World" did not come true. (The picture below I took on my way back from the Oregon coast this week. While it's shocking to even think about, for those who have grown up rooted and grounded in the Word of God, for God plainly tells us of His return in Matt 24:36, "No man knows the day or the hour." At the same time, my heart hurts for those that will not only be disappointed by this false-alarm, but for the many that will walk away from Christ because of this event not coming true. Thank goodness, there is still hope, but it's not in a man or a prediction maker! It's in the Word of God: www.aftermay21.com)

"Did God fail us? Why didn't He come through?" While it is May 21st at the time of this writing, and 6pm has just passed, I did not write this blog post because of this "failed rapture." It's incidental that it's happening just as I write out my thoughts here. I wrote this post because this "Trust Issue" is something God has been challenging me with, and I am sure it's also true for many of you.

The question remains...

"Will we trust God even when He appears silent, when He appears to have forgotten, when it seems impossible that He could work now, and when it appears that He has failed?? Will we still trust Him??????"

I don't understand God's ways... His thoughts are higher, His ways we cannot even begin to comprehend. (Isa 55:8-9) But I'm determined, with "gritted teeth"....I will trust Him! :-)

Be inspired as you read the last blog entry of the late David Wilkerson - where the story "The Cross and the Switch Blade" originated. It's profound and it's powerful. It was written on April 27th, and that's the day that he died.

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WHEN ALL MEANS FAIL

by David Wilkerson | April 27, 2011

To believe when all means fail is exceedingly pleasing to God and is most acceptable. Jesus said to Thomas, “You have believed because you have seen, but blessed are those that do believe and have not seen” (John 20:29).

Blessed are those who believe when there is no evidence of an answer to prayer—who trust beyond hope when all means have failed.

Someone has come to the place of hopelessness—the end of hope—the end of all means. A loved one is facing death and doctors give no hope. Death seems inevitable. Hope is gone. The miracle prayed for is not happening.

That is when Satan’s hordes come to attack your mind with fear, anger, overwhelming questions: “Where is your God now? You prayed until you had no tears left. You fasted. You stood on promises. You trusted.”

Blasphemous thoughts will be injected into your mind: “Prayer failed. Faith failed. Don’t quit on God—just do not trust him anymore. It doesn’t pay!”

Even questioning God’s existence will be injected into your mind. These have been the devices of Satan for centuries. Some of the godliest men and women who ever lived were under such demonic attacks.

To those going through the valley and shadow of death, hear this word: Weeping will last through some dark, awful nights—and in that darkness you will soon hear the Father whisper, “I am with you. I cannot tell you why right now, but one day it will all make sense. You will see it was all part of my plan. It was no accident. It was no failure on your part. Hold fast. Let me embrace you in your hour of pain.”

Beloved, God has never failed to act but in goodness and love. When all means fail—His love prevails. Hold fast to your faith. Stand fast in his Word. There is no other hope in this world.

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Yes, there is no other Way....there is NO OTHER HOPE in this World....our only Hope is God.

And we will trust Him...I will trust Him, even when He is silent, even when it feels that He has forgotten, even when the natural realm makes His deliverance seem impossible, and even when it feels like He has failed, I will trust Him. I hope you can say the same.

"That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perished, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ." I Pet 1:7

"Knowing this that the trying of your faith worketh patience, but let patience have her perfect work." James 1:3

"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, for He is faithful that promised." Heb 10:23

"God is not a man that He can lie, neither the some of man that he should repent. Hath he said and shall he not do it. Hath he spoken and shall he not make it good." Num 23:19

"For the eyes of the Lord roam to and fro throughout the whole earth to shew himself strong in behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him." II Chron 16:9

To hear the full sermon that inspired these thoughts - please click on the following link! "Gritted Teeth - We hold on"