The Freedom in Trusting

The month of February was a month where God truly worked in my heart and mind. I went into the month of February overwhelmed, stressed, fearful of the future, anxious, and insure. But over the course of the short month of February, God took away all of those things with one simple question, “Do you trust me?”

“Do I fully trust him?” I thought. As much as I wanted to answer, “Yes, of course!” I knew I couldn’t.

But I think this is a lot more common than we want to admit.

My heart trusted him, but my words and actions said otherwise in my life.

We trust God with our eternity. And we “trust” him with our finances. We “trust” him with our future. We “trust” him with our loved ones.

But if you are anything like me, you also worry about your finances. You worry about your future. You worry about your loved ones.

And again, if you are like me, you know that the Bible clearly says not to worry. Yet, we continue to do so. We stress ourselves out. We become anxious.

This worry, this stress, and this anxiety robs us of our joy, our God-given joy. It makes us into people we weren’t meant to be. It makes us so focused on unlikely future events that we cannot fully live the life right in front of us.

We admit that we worry and stress. We admit that God has already said not to do this. But we continue to do it. Why? Because in a weird way it gives us some sort of false sense of security and control. We continue to stress and worry because we don’t want to give up the “control” stress and worry make us feel we have.

Once I gave up that “control” stress and worry made me feel I had something completely change in me. I began to feel more of the woman God made me to be. The insecurities and fears of the future drifted away. I began to truly trust that God would be there for me, for I am his daughter! I began to feel his comfort and his peace.

The month of February didn’t fix me for life. I know that in a matter of weeks, days, or even hours, my mind will wonder and I will be faced with worries and stress. But when I begin to feel those feelings, I will remember that God truly loves me, He will protect me, and He will provide for me. I will trust my Heavenly Father with it all, the good, the bad, and the ugly.

The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.” (Psalm 91:15 to 16)

He didn’t make us to fix everything or do everything on our own. He made us to passionately follow him and to trust him with it all.

So let’s do that! Let’s tell fear, stress, worry, and anxiety that they are no longer welcome. And let’s welcome God back into our minds and hearts, always knowing that trusting him is the best thing we can do.

Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? “Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Luke 12:24 to 34)