Do you really trust the Lord? Do you really trust Him with your life, with the life of your family and loved ones? Do you trust the promises He has given you in His word, as well as the things He has spoken directly to your heart? I know that, at times, I have not trusted Him as I should...not with my WHOLE heart as it tells me in Proverbs 3 to do ("Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding"). There are times, when I think I have to figure it out, or somehow figure a way out of this storm in my own strength. I think it is part of our fleshly nature that we all have struggled with at times. The part of us that thinks we are the ones in control, and it is our own might that will get us through the crazy, unexpected storms that strike us in life.
Regardless of what storms we are facing in life, we must trust that the Lord is in control, and He is with us. Not only is He with us, but He will fight the battle for us! The Lord tells us in Zechariah that it is "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty." We must trust that His promises are true and what He says, He will do! We have to trust that the Lord will be a shield to us, and lift our heads, as His word tells us that He will. In Psalm 91 David declares, "I will say of the LORD, 'He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” Verse 4 then tells us that "He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler." As the storms of life rage around us, we must remember to take refuge under His wings...we must remember that the truth of His word is our shield!
In those moments of overwhelming distress, when it seems that all hell is breaking lose, we can't look at the storms that surround us, and lean on our own knowledge or understanding of what's happening. Instead we need to put our trust in the Lord, knowing that He will not leave us or forsake us, and He will make all things work together for our good! (Deut. 31:6 & Rom. 8:28)
The word "trust" in the above passages is the Hebrew word "batach", which means to have confidence in, be bold and secure. Are you confident in the Lord's promises? Are you standing in security and boldly declaring what the word of God tells you is the truth? Or are you questioning if that promise is really true for you? There's an old saying that goes something like this ~ "God said, I believe it, and that settles it"! Well, I know God said it, but do you really believe it...and even more, is it settled within you?
Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:13 to "take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand". Are you standing firm? Are you declaring God's word to be true over your circumstances, or are you believing what you see around you? True faith is standing firm and believing God, even when your circumstances seem painfully contrary to His promises. Don't forget, the enemy is a deceiver and master of illusion. We must trust in the promises of the Lord, even when we do not YET see them in the natural. Remember that "faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do NOT see". (Heb. 11:1)
The Lord has been speaking to me much lately about the eagle, and how it remains calm and secure, knowing that the wind will enable it to soar high above the storm. We must be like the eagle, and trust the wind of His Spirit to take us higher, until we soar above the storm. Help us to trust you Lord, with our whole heart! Take us to the high places, that can only be found in Your Presence, where we soar above the storms...by Your Spirit!