Trust

Trust. Probably one of the hardest qualities to posses and act upon. I think about how many people in my life i put a lot of trust into. Their are quite a few, but not a lot. It's really hard to put your trust in people sometimes because so many times they end up letting you down. Friendship, relationships, and families are ruined by lack of faith or trust in one another.
....here is the thing though, so many times we are quicker to put our trust in the people that are going to let us down than we are our perfect and holy God. Why is that? We know he is perfect and is always their for us, but we cant trust him. Maybe it's because so many of us have the mind set that we are here and God is there, far away from us doing his own thing, so how can I possibly put my trust into someone I can't even see. Or maybe it because you are so wrapped up in yourself and your friends lives that you are convinced that they have the correct answer for you or you can just find it on your own and they don't need God's help.
For the ones who can't trust in God because they can't see him, or hear him, or touch him, if you truly believe in God, you don't have to see him to know he is there. God is all around you! Ever since the beginning of time, God has always been here. He is the same today and he was yesterday and will be tomorrow. He's not going to let you down. I think the main problem is people mistake God not giving them what they want for God letting them down. We have to trust God and trust that he knows what is best for us and we don't. Their have been so many times that I have tried to follow my own understandings and have only ended up in a deep mess. If we start giving all our hopes, dreams, and worries to God then we should be confident right then that everything is going to be ok, we have nothing to worry if we only trust in God. Paul wrote the book of Philippians from a jail cell and he was rejoicing about it! He knew he wasn't alone and knew that it was for the glory of God! I couldn't think of a lonelier place to be than a jail cell. Paul truly knew and understood what it was to trust in God!
"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." -Philippians 4:12-13

And now the ones that put their trust and faith in themselves and friends to solve all their problems....your friends cannot fix you and they cannot determine your future. They can't even fix themselves or see the future for themselves, much less yours. Friends are amazing and everyone needs a good one to talk to and listen to and fellowship with. But it is when you refuse the words that God is giving you because you trust your or your friends instincts more that you start walking down the wrong path. God should be the one you run to for advice first! God is the only one who can save you and he determines your destiny. Paul says it far better than I ever could in Philippians 3:7-9, "I once thought all these things were so very important, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own goodness or my ability to obey God's law, but I trust Christ Jesus to save me. For God's way of making us right with himself depends on faith."

Trusting, fully trusting, in God is a very hard thing to do. But it is so wonderful. Christ died so that we could have life to the fullest (John 10:10), but we can't have that without trusting in him first.

Running the Race

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us." -Hebrews 12:1


Life, if you could even call it that, without Christ is like standing on the side lines of a race. Your just standing there, alone. They have the option to run the next race coming up, but you don't. You don't even bother to get in the starting position.
As you stand there, They are filled with a longing to run the race because you know it will give them some sort of meaning. They know it will give you hope! The hardest part, though, is just starting the race. It seems so simple, you just do it! Unfortunately, to many people it's one of the hardest things to do. They have to leave the comfort of all they have ever known. Their ignorance scares them from leaving the hell they have been living in.
As they watch others step up, start their race, and run, they see the perseverance and determination of each runner as they start off. They also see the courage it took to step up and begin the race. After a while, some begin to grow tired and lose their drive so they sit down and rest. Others stumble and fall. Only a few continue to run unwaveringly.
This is when the ones standing on the side lines quit watching the race. They frown upon the runners who grew tired and the ones that stumbled and fell. They call them hypocrites wanting nothing to do them or the race for fear that they might do the same.
Unfortunately for them, they quit watching the race too soon.
The ones that grew weary and tired where brought water and given rest so they could get up and continue the race. For the ones that stumbled and fell, someone came to pick them up and dust them off so that they too could finish the race.
You see, the ones who never begin the race don't realize that when you fall down or grow tired standing on the side lines, their isn't anyone their giving you water or picking you back up. Your on your own. But, after all, that's how they chose for it to be.
When all Christians start off their race, or relationship with Christ, they are passionate and determined to grow more and more! Unfortunately, after a while some start to grow tired and start wavering in their faith and others sometimes fall down in their faith. But God is always their to pick them back up, refresh them, and remind them of why they started running, or following Christ, in the first place. Non believers don't always see or understand this and turn themselves against Christs love.
The race we run is not perfect. It's not easy. It's long and challenging. But the prize is far greater and any of us can fathom, and we are never left running alone. God is always with us!


"...The race is not to the swift. or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise, or wealth to the brilliant, or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all."
-Ecclesiastes 9:11