These were the lyrics to a 1887 song by John H. Sammis that I sang with my brothers growing up:
Trust and Obey,
For there’s not other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.
But… my brothers and I didn’t really sing it that way. We sang “Trust and GO away!” Many times we’d like to trust but we just can’t seem to so we just “go away” and abandon what God has been whispering in our hearts and minds. Fear is a leach that sucks the voice of God from us and keeps us from obeying. When it comes to leadership and influence, we usually talk about honesty and integrity. Questions like, Can I trust you to honor your word? or Can you be trusted with my finances? come to mind. Trusting God in our everyday projects, new ventures, and at times those risky uncertain life choices is difficult. Trust must start with our relationship with God. Unbroken, boundless, borderless confidence and building it into trust equity. It has to be personally attained. How much do you take Him at His word? How much are you tuned in and connected to His mind? We have to stop talking about trusting God and just do it. If not we are a noisy gong and a clanking cymbal as it says in I Cor. 13:1.
It’s been an interesting few months for me as a mom and now a new grandmother. God has given me renewed eyes and insights on how He births us, grows us, and walks with us through life. God wants us to be completely vulnerable to Him. As we trust Him, our love for Him grows stronger and we are able to banish the fear more easily. A new born baby has to trust for survival because they have no other choice. Each time pain or fear is felt the baby screams for help and the loving mom or dad is there suppling the need. Trust grows into love and the baby begins to understand the parent will supply his or her demands because they know what is needed. The parent/child relationship is built and allows the child to grow and be strengthened. It allows the child to stop wondering whether his or hers basic needs will be met and start focusing on other things and on other people.
Jesus said to Peter in John 21: 15-17, “If you love me feed my sheep,” and He said it three times. He wanted Peter to get it. Jesus went on to say in verse 18, when we were young, you did as you liked; dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted, but when you get old; someone will have to dress you and take you where you don’t want to go. Has God asked you to obey and trust Him with something? Go, trust and obey before regret sets in with old age and before the opportunity goes away and you miss your chance.
Proverbs 3: 5 -6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your understanding but acknowledge Him and He will make straight your paths.”
