do i trust You...?

Yesterday a friend was talking with me about a battle that is currently being waged in her life--one that, due to today's economy, is facing quite a few home owners. It is the fight to keep their home. Because of various circumstances in their lives over the past year, they are engaged in legal action and fighting for their home. It is not only a confusing and frightening battle but emotionally and mentally exhausting as well. They continually give it to the Lord, place it in His hands, but must also fight with themselves to leave it there.

Yesterday I also read a posting on Ann Voskamp's blog, A Holy Experience, about their battle to bring in their overly-ready wheat harvest. The wheat was ripe and needed to be harvested, yet they had had rain for days and could not harvest in the rain. The one day of sun on which they could have harvested was a Sunday, and they had committed that day to the Lord as the Sabbath, the day of rest. They, too, had a battle to fight-- to honor the day which they had committed to the Lord--even at the expense of losing their entire wheat crop.

Both of these situations, like so many in our lives, require a courageous and frightening trust in God and in His love and care for our lives. Both of these can be faith-shaking experiences. We know that He loves us. We know that He has promised to care for us. But sometimes that love and that care don't look quite like what we think they should. Sometimes that love and that care allow us to be taken to the very ends of our endurance and strength, and beyond, in order that we may learn to trust Him more deeply and completely. Or so a miracle may occur and He may receive the glory.

Whatever the outcome of these difficult circumstances in our lives, we must hold to the TRUTH that our Father loves us...that He is bigger than all of this... and that we must trust Him.

I was reminded of an old Twila Paris song that I used to love called "Do I Trust You?"...

Sometimes my little heart can't understand
What's in Your will, what's in Your plan.
So many times I'm tempted to ask You why,
But I can never forget it for long.
Lord, what You do could not be wrong.
So I believe You, even when I must cry.
Do I trust You, Lord? Does the river flow?
Do I trust You, Lord? Does the north wind blow?
You can see my heart, You can read my mind,
And You've got to know I would rather die
Than to lose my faith In the One I love.
Do I trust You, Lord? Do I trust You?

I know the answers, I've given them all.
But suddenly now, I feel so small.
Shaken down to the cavity in my soul.
I know the doctrine and theology,
But right now they don't mean much to me.
This time there's only one thing I've got to know.
Do I trust You, Lord? Does the robin sing?
Do I trust You, Lord? Does it rain in spring?
You can see my heart, You can read my mind,
And You've got to know I would rather die
Than to lose my faith In the One I love.
Do I trust You, Lord? Do I trust You?

I will trust You, Lord, when I don't know why.
I will trust You, Lord, till the day I die.
I will trust You, Lord, when I'm blind with pain!
You were God before, and You'll never change.
I will trust You. I will trust You.
I will trust You, Lord. I will trust You.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose... Romans 8:28

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." ~Joshua 1:9

Take heart, my friends; He is faithful!