You Can Trust The Lord
By Rich Carmicheal
Life brings its share of troubles and hardships. Perhaps you find yourself in the midst of a difficult situation even now. If so, I encourage you to look to the Lord and trust Him to help you. Here are five reasons to place your confidence in Him:
1. The Lord cares about you. The Apostle Peter encourages you to cast all of your anxiety upon the Lord "because He cares for you" (1 Pet. 5:7). Unfortunately, it is easy in a time of trouble to think that the Lord may not care for you. But just the opposite is true. During times of great need, the Lord is especially eager to draw close and help. He is a God of mercy and He loves to provide special care for the needy. Consider this word of encouragement: "Why do you say…my way is hidden from the Lord…Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth…gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power...those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary" (Isa. 40:27-31). Your way is not hidden from God. He cares for you, and He wants to help you.
2. The Lord knows you and what is best for you. "O Lord, Thou hast searched me and known me. Thou dost know when I sit down and when I rise up; Thou dost understand my thought from afar…and art intimately acquainted with all my ways" (Psa. 139:1-3). The Lord knows you intimately. He knows your inner person and your outward circumstances. He also knows what is best for you. Whereas your perspective is limited, the Lord’s is perfect. He knows the best solution for every situation you face. He knows what you need, even before you ask Him (Matt. 6:8). And since He cares for you, you can trust Him to cause "all things to work together for good..." (Rom. 8:28). You can be confident that the Author of life knows how each chapter of your life should unfold in order to accomplish His good purposes.
3. The Lord is able to help you. "Ah Lord God...Nothing is too difficult for Thee" (Jer. 32:17). With God all things are possible. In fact, He is able "…to do exceeding abundantly beyond all we ask or think, according to His power that works within us" (Eph. 3:20). His ability is by no means in question. He is able to save, deliver, comfort, encourage, guide, equip, empower, heal, sustain, defend, forgive, cleanse, sanctify, strengthen, embolden, enlighten, restore, preserve, provide, renew, convict, rescue, and on and on. He can work in outward circumstances as well as in the spirit, soul, mind and body. No matter what trouble or trial you may face, the Lord can help. "…for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able..." (2 Tim. 1:12).
4. The Lord is faithful and unchanging. "Know therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation..." (Deut. 7:9). "Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow" (Jas. 1:17). The Lord is faithful and unchanging and will never disappoint those who place their trust in Him. Although we may not always understand why He works in a particular way in our lives, we can know with the utmost confidence that He will always be true to His Word and to His promises to us.
5. The Lord’s Presence satisfies. In the midst of great sorrow and affliction, the prophet Jeremiah shares these words, "The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Thy faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion’ says my soul…" (Lam. 3:22-24). One of the reasons we need to turn to the Lord in the midst of hardship is because in Him alone is true satisfaction for our souls. As we draw near to Him and abide in His Presence, we receive life, joy, peace and hope. Our troubles pale in comparison with His greatness, and we come to know firsthand the confidence and the victory expressed in such passages as Psalm 46:1, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble" and Psalm 23:4, "...I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me."
Hudson Taylor, who faced great hardships as a missionary in China, discovered how troubles can help one draw closer to the Lord. He wrote that "it doesn’t matter, really, how great the pressure is. It only matters where the pressure lies. See that it never comes between you and the Lord—then, the greater the pressure, the more it presses you to His breast."
No matter what hardship you may face now or in the future, look to the Lord and place your complete trust in Him. He cares about you, He knows you, He is able to help you, and He will never let you down. Take time to be still before Him, spend time in His Word, and spend time with Him in prayer. As you abide in His Presence you will find the help that you need and a fullness of life beyond anything you can ask or imagine.
"...I will trust and not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation" (Isa. 12:2).