October 14, 2008

It’s Time to Trust

We all have been impacted one way or another with the current financial crisis. Some of us have suffered great losses on the stock market. Some have lost their jobs. Others have seen their retirement funds shrink substantially. For most of us, our savings have decreased while our expenses have increased.
And although our President this morning spoke to the nation urging patience and expressing a confidence in the federal government’s “comprehensive strategy,” it is for most of us a time punctuated by fear and frustration.

In just such an environment, it is prudent to review two important truths…what we SHOULD and SHOULD NOT be putting our trust and confidence in.

Let’s start with what we SHOULD NOT be trusting in. We can start with our “wealth.” Whether we have been blessed with a whole lot or just enough, we must not consider money to be our safety net. When we trust in our riches, then God is not our strength (Ps. 52:7). As children of God, what we have is a blessing, what we do not have – we do not need!

We can’t completely trust in our leaders either. They are mere mortals with foibles just like ours. We must respect, honor and sometimes obey the authorities placed above us, but our confidence is not in their judgment, but in the Lord who ultimately placed them in power. The Psalmist reminds us,”It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man” (Ps. 118:8).

So where can we turn? Where SHOULD our confidence be placed? Again, the Psalmist helps us focus, “Trust in the Lord and do well, so shall you dwell in the land and verily you shall be fed” (Ps. 37:3). Truly, when our focus is on the provision of the Lord and not our own accomplishments, He has promised us our daily bread. We will be fed!

Sitting on my desk for the last 10 months or so is a wonderful promise from Ps. 33. In light of the panic and fear of our day, let me share it with you…

“No King is saved by the size of his army, no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance. Despite all his strength, he can not save. But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is on His unfailing Love.”
It is time to trust!

Warmest regards in Christ,

Sherry L. Worel

Stoneybrooke Christian Schools