Trust

One of the hardest things I think we're called to do as Jesus followers is to trust that God will be there for us. That in the midst of all that life throws our way, that somewhere, often so close that we can't even see it, God is present with us. Perhaps a reason for this lack of trust is that in our society we're told that the only person who is willing to look out-for or after us is…well…us. No one else really cares. No one else stays up late at night wondering how our bills will be paid. No one else cares if our relationships survive. No one really wants to know how we are doing – I mean beyond the courteous "hi, how are you" to which we really don't expect any kind of real reply. At the end of the day the message we get from popular culture is that every person is an island, that we're in it alone, and that the only person we can really depend on is ourselves. That works of course if you're trying to sell the latest self-help or the latest techno-gadget or the latest glitzy new car with all the bling. Yet those of us who are Jesus followers know that nothing could be further from the truth. We are not alone. God is here with us and when we take the time to look we can see the image of Jesus looking at us.

This summer when I was out walking with my life-partner one evening we had a chance encounter with a couple who were visiting our city. They'd gotten lost downtown and simply wanted to find a place to eat dinner before crossing the border to the U.S. and returning home. We gave them directions as best we could – its actually very difficult to describe an easy and straight path out of the downtown – and sent them on their way. We met up with the same couple again along our walk – they still hadn't found a place to eat. As my partner tried to describe how to get to more restaurants, even offering to draw them a map, a great idea popped into my head – why not just jump in the car and take them there? So I offered, "if its o.k. with you, why don't we just jump in and give you directions?" The couple were shocked! "Are you serious?!?" they asked. "Of course, that is, if you don't mind." We jumped in, gave them directions and arrived at a local eatery. Along the way they learned that both my life-partner and I are pastors and we learned that her brother and his father were pastors. What are the odds? When we were parting she said to me "God put you in our path and all we had to do was trust you." Imagine, all they had to do was trust us! As if it was all that simple.

Trust is a big deal in our society as we watch over our shoulders and wonder who is trying to take advantage of us when we answer the phone. Yet, trust is one of the components to a life in Christ. Trust enables us to lay the stuff that's bothering us aside. Trust calls us into a deeper relationship with God through Jesus. Trust enables us to put our hand in God's hand and look to the future with hope and awe.