The rattlings in my brain after small group last night have distilled down to a single question: How do we grow in trusting God?
Business adages abound that declare there is no growth without pain. “No pain, no gain” is a common example. Less common but still thoughtful is from Rick Warren: There is no success without growth. There is no growth without change. There is no change without loss. And there is no loss without pain.
So how does that play into growing our trust levels with God?
I wonder if there is no growing in trust without getting stuck in between our prayers and God’s answers.
Any time we pray and God does a Boom-Zap miracle answer, that doesn’t really do anything to nurture and grow our trust. That’s a lot more like rubbing a magic lamp and letting a genie do his thing.
Don’t get me wrong. It’s amazing and miraculous and wonderful and praise-worthy.
But it doesn’t develop growth within us.
Growth actually happens in the in-between times.
• Where we learn how to hold onto a promise of God and not let go.
• Where we look around and see the miracles God is providing to other people.
• Where we remind ourselves of God’s faithfulness in the past.
• Where scripture takes on new meaning. Even if we’re only digging into scripture because we’re having trouble waiting on God.
Today, some simple encouragement for hard times:
God has not abandoned you:
Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.
Psalm 23:4, MSG
And even though God may appear to be silent, that should never lead us to believe that God is either absent or apathetic:
God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits, to the woman who diligently seeks. It’s a good thing to quietly hope, quietly hope for help from God. It’s a good thing when you’re young to stick it out through the hard times.
When life is heavy and hard to take, go off by yourself. Enter the silence. Bow in prayer. Don’t ask questions: Wait for hope to appear. Don’t run from trouble. Take it full-face. The “worst” is never the worst. Why? Because the Master won’t ever walk out and fail to return.
Lamentations 3:25-31, MSG
Today, enter the silence. Embrace the waiting. And trust that God is right there, waiting for you.
That’s worship.
–Pastor Steve.