Trust

Trust

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

“MY DAD LEARNED to trust God by watching his parents, and I’m learning to trust God, in part because of my dad’s stories of how God provided for my grandparents.”

Ceena’s grandfather Yohannan and grandmother Kunjamma Idicula trusted God to provide in ways many of us cannot fathom. Life in Kerala, India, was hard. On more than a few occasions, there were stretches of weeks in which food was scarce, and their family of twelve knew what it meant to be hungry. And yet her grandfather, a pastor, brought home strangers to share whatever meager fare Kunjamma put on the table.

“Somehow, they always made it,” Ceena said. “God always provided. And my dad learned to be generous, to rely on God, to trust him when things looked impossible because he watched his mom and dad trust God. I think of my grandparents when I’m trusting God. It’s encouraging.”

I claim to trust God, but how often do I trust God only out of my abundance? As I listened to Ceena talk, I wondered whether I had Grandfather Yohannan’s trust, the assurance that as I generously shared whatever last small amount I had, God would provide the rest. Do I trust God in my lack?

Ouch. That question makes me wince as I consider the times I’ve had a backup plan, you know, just in case. If we say we trust God, then we have to trust him in our lack, not out of our abundance. How do we do that? We seek his will, asking him to direct our path rather than setting off and asking him to bless what we’ve already done. We share generously with others rather than hoarding the last little bit, knowing that God can and will provide more. We collect the stories of those who have trusted God in their lack, clinging to that knowledge and understanding while we wait.

Lord, may we be women who trust in our lack rather than who only trust out of our abundance. Amen.

-Julie

One Good Step: Where might you need to trust God in your lack instead of out of your own abundance? Remind yourself of Grandfather Yohannan as you wait.