Think on These Things: Positive thoughts in a negative world…
When people say, “trust me,” I visualize red flags popping up out of their heads with words like beware, avoid, and caution written across them. I, like so many others, have become jaded by society. Honesty may be the best policy but it seems almost nonexistent today. We have been continually misled by politicians, leaders, media, banks, news commentators, corporations, doctors, reporters, lawyers, and so on. Was there really ever any truth in advertising? Just how long can one store have a “going out of business” sale?
People try to reassure of us of certain things, but more than likely the check is not in the mail, that used car is not in good running condition, the repairman can’t make it just like new, the dog really does bite, your secret will be told, and a Novocain shot hurts more than just a little. No wonder we have trust issues!
Truth be told, we can’t even trust ourselves. We are influenced by emotions and feelings which can be manipulated and misleading. Perhaps that’s why God tells us not to lean on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5).
In this world of mistrust, we sometimes forget there is One we can always count on. In good times or bad, God can always be trusted to take care of us and look out for our best interests. We are His children and He loves us (1 John 3:1). Circumstances change but God remains constant (Hebrews 13:8). God is good, and blessed are those who trust Him (Jeremiah 17:7). Christians forget that trust is a choice (Psalm 31:14).
Most of our choices or decisions are habitual responses, many times governed by our feelings and emotions. Trusting God must be a conscious, moment-by-moment choice. God is with us every step of every day whether we feel it or not. Daily disruptions are opportunities to trust God. Sometimes just whispering “I choose to trust you, Lord” can give us perspective. This trust relinquishes control to God.
When we trust God our happiness does not depend on our circumstances (Habakkuk 3:17-19). Trusting God helps us stop complaining, resenting, and comparing ourselves to others. Often we waste precious time wishing things were different rather than looking for God where we are. God can lift us above our circumstances.
When it comes to God, we don’t need to have trust issues or get discouraged. Corrie ten Boom once said, “When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don’t throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer.” Trusting God is how we walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).
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“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” ~Philippians 4:8 (KJV)
