I stare down at the bills in front of me and consider the unknown expenses that are certain to spring up along the way. Oh yeah, and Christmas.
I don’t have enough. Not by a long shot. And a pang of fear courses through me.
Then something else whispers softly into my soul —
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
So what about when we don’t have what we need? Whatever it may be. We’ve prayed and believed and waited. And still — it’s not there.
What then?
Trusting in the Lord with all our hearts isn’t natural for us without proof we can see or touch. It’s a choice we must make every single moment of every single day. It’s a fierce and unrelenting choosing.
This is our safeguard from the lies the enemy tells us. He says —
We’re not enough. Something must be wrong with us. No one will ever love us as we are. God will not take care of our needs. It’s all up to us. God will not come through.
But God’s word says —
We are already enough. 1 Peter 2:9
We are perfected in Christ Jesus. 2 Corinthians 3:5-6
We are forever loved by God just as we are. Romans 5:8
God will provide for all our needs. Philippians 4:119
So just one question remains. Do we believe his word?
I’m gonna be real with you. I’ve felt for a while now that I was walking toward the edge of a cliff with no visible sign that I won’t fall off once I get there. So I have a choice to make as I keep walking.
Do I believe what he says is true, or not? Because if I do, here’s what I’ll do when I reach the edge —
I’ll take another step.
Friends, this is where faith gets really real. The thing is, are we willing to move beyond that precipice with nothing but his word telling us we can?
If you’re like me, you may be feeling a lot of fear, uncertainty, disillusionment. And so many other things. But even so, I want to keep going. Because more than anything else, I want to know what it’s like to take that next step.
And when I do and he comes through for me, I don’t want to be doubting. I want to be believing.
God, I may not know or even like what you’re doing, but I know that you love me. And I choose to trust you in this place I’m in with no present answers. Help me believe. Make me brave. Give me all that I need to follow you. Amen.
