You know if we were all honest. Really honest! We would all have to admit. That there are areas of our lives. That
we do not trust God with!
Areas that have caused us much pain and discomfort. Such as relationships, friendships, family (money, careers)
etc. Leaving deep painful scars. Causing us to close off certain areas of our lives to Him. And to others.
....And in turn? Causing us to miss out on the good things God wants to give us.
Then leaving us with the feeling that God does not care. Or that He cannot help us in these areas. That we are doomed
to "repeat" our past failures and (or) mistakes. Or the wrongs that we have suffered. That we will never be worthy to receive
better.
And this is understandable for many of us. Especially when we have known failure and deep pain in these areas.
And Satan takes advantage of our sorrow and hurt. He "drives it home". As only he can! Whispering in our ears.
Things such as,"well God doesn't want anything good for you". "You know your track record". Or, "your not good enough, that's
why these things keep happening to you". Or, "do you think God ever really cared about you to begin with?" Or "your not worth
anything".
So in our pain and sorrow we only come to the conclusion that we will always be on the "bottom". Trying to, "swim up
a waterfall". Never to reach the top! So many of us? ...We just give up.
But there are some things we need to know. And remember in this.
First of all. We completely forget, in our sorrow, that Satan is a liar:
"You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from
the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from
his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it."
(John
8:44 NKJV)
He is the father of lies! And he's good at it. He's had thousands of years to practice!! ...But he is STILL a LIAR!!!
And what does a liar do? Tell lies!
And just to remind ourselves. What is a lie?
Let's look at what the Merriam-Webster dictionary says!
Lie -1 : to make an untrue statement
with intent to deceive 2 : to
create a false or misleading impression.
So we need to remember what he is about! Yes?!!
Second, we need to remember. That we do make our own choices. Whether good, or bad. And we do need to own them! We are
human. We are fallible. We can and will make mistakes. It is the condition of our fallen nature. That's why the world is the
way it is!
We ARE human! So we are not perfect.
So with that said. It is no wonder that we do make poor choices. Now, not in everything we do. But in certain areas
of our lives. Areas that we struggle in.
But we must consider this. Our backgrounds. The way we were raised. Our past (and present) experiences. Whether we were
mistreated, abused, (and) or molested, etc. All these can and do, play a part in the way we think. And the choices we make.
How we perceive ourselves. And how we perceive others. The world around us.
Then carrying over into our adulthood life. And even into our christian walk. Affecting ultimately, every aspect
of our lives.
And oftentimes, these patterns of ours. Are hard to "break off". But that is exactly what God wants to do in our lives.
He wants to take the areas of our lives. That cause us pain and harm. And He wants to heal them (for more info click
here:
The Pain of Brokenness). So ultimately and wholeheartedly, we grow to trust Him c-o-m-p-l-e-t-e-l-y.
You see what often happens is this. We make choices based on our experiences. For better, or worse. So when something
goes wrong. We in turn doubt God's love for us. We doubt His sovereignty in our lives. His concern for our well being.
So we blame Him for the outcome. We forget that we make our own choices!
And it's sad to think that we are conditioned by our experiences. But it is true. We are! Whether good, or bad!!
But we are not left without hope. We are not left alone in these!
You see God wants us to know. That He wants to be Lord. Not only of our salvation. But In EVERY part of our lives. Especially
in the areas we struggle in! He cares about our very beings! He wants us to be whole and healthy!!
Now for some this may sound like a "no brainer". But for those who have struggled in certain areas of their lives. Either
from past failures (and), or abuse, mistreatment. This is something they truly need too, "know, that they know".
You see God wants us to trust Him in every area of our lives. Not just the ones we are willing to give Him. In fact He
wants those areas, that are the hardest for us. He wants us to let Him in!
He wants us to experience full trust in Him. As a child does His (or her) Father. But it can only come when we fully
surrender those parts to Him. And that is hard for many of us. Especially for those of us that have really been hurt
deeply. That did not have a healthy relationship with our earthly fathers. When we were not able to trust the one we
should have been able too. The one who was suppose to protect, encourage and provide for us. So naturally it would be hard
to trust God in sensitive areas! Afterall, if you could not trust your earthly father who you have seen. It would be hard
to trust a heavenly father whom you haven't seen.
But that's what He wants for us. For us to be able to trust Him unconditionally. In all things!
And He promises that He will help us. But we must turn to Him and ask Him:
"Commit your way to the LORD,
Trust also
in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass."
(Psalm 37:5 NKJV)
He will see us through and guide us:
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your
own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And
He shall direct your paths."
(Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV)
But we have to ask Him to come into those areas of our lives. And it is not easy. It can be downright painful! But He
will give us what we need:
"You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is
stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You."
(Isaiah 26:3 NKJV)
And what He gives us in the end is awesome:
"Those who sow in tears
Shall reap in joy.
He who continually goes forth weeping,
Bearing seed for
sowing,
Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,
Bringing
his sheaves with him."
(Psalm 126:5-6 NKJV)
Now remember, we do have a free will! And even though He wants to be in every part of our lives. He will not
violate our free will! We still have to ask Him.
And in order to do this. For those of us who find it hard to trust. We must look at His word. Know who He is. And then
stand on His promises:
"For the LORD will be your confidence,
And will keep your foot
from being caught."
(Proverbs
3:26 NKJV)
"But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
whose
confidence is in him."
(Jeremiah
17:7 NIV)
"It is better to trust in the LORD
Than
to put confidence in man.
It is better to trust in the LORD
Than
to put confidence in princes."
(Psalm 118:8-9 NKJV)
"By awesome deeds in righteousness You will answer us,
O God
of our salvation,
You who are the confidence of all the ends of the earth,
And of the far-off seas;"
(Psalm 65:5 NKJV)
And we must remember that He dearly loves us. And gave His very own Son to redeem us:
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish
but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."
(John 3:16-17
NIV)
He does not take our salvation lightly! Or His love for us!! ...And we should not either!!!
You see God did not redeem us, "just to redeem us". He redeemed us so that we could have real, lasting, and loving fellowship
(and relationship) with Him!
And He wants to be a part (of EVERY part) of our lives! He wants us to be able to trust in Him. But in order
for this to happen. We need to give Him that trust.
But, for many of us? It just does not happen this way. It is not "simple" for us, to just "give trust away". So we must
ask Him to help us (in the very areas we struggle in). The ones we close off!
We must also remember this. That God is so much bigger than our past, our present, our future. Our problems!
...And ALL the
times are in His hands:
And who can proclaim as I do?
Then let him declare it and set it in
order for Me,
Since I appointed the ancient people.
And
the things that are coming and shall come,
Let them show these to them.
(Isaiah 44:7 NKJV)
There is NOTHING, that is not in His control! We can trust Him!!
And we must ALWAYS remember. That NOTHING and NO one, can take us from His hands:
"And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My
hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My
Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.”
(John 10:28-29 NKJV)
He is our confidence!
"So we say with confidence,
"The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?"
(Hebrews 13:6 NIV)
So think about the areas of your life. The ones you close off from the Lord. The ones you know deep down. That He
has been trying to get into! But you won't let Him in!!
Yes, it can be painful. But if you truly know the loving character of your God...? Then you will ask Him to help you!
So give it some thought. Read the word. Know your God better!
...And remember what Jesus said to Philip. When Philip asked to see the Father:
"Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” Jesus said to him,
“Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how
can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words
that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me
that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves."
(John 14:8-11 NKJV)
If we have seen the character of Jesus? Then we have seen the character of the Father! Think about it!!
And remember this. The more you read His word. The more your faith will be built up.
"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
(Romans
10:17 NKJV)
And the better you will know How loving and compassioniate He REALLY is!
"But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious,
Longsuffering
and abundant in mercy and truth."
(Psalm 86:15 NKJV)
"The LORD is gracious and full of compassion,
Slow to anger and great in mercy."
(Psalm
145:8 NKJV)
"Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness;
He
is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous."
(Psalm 112:4 NKJV)
Afterall, remember! God is love:
"He who does not love does not know God, for God is love."
(1
John 4:8 NKJV)
So if you have areas in your life that you hold back from Him. Ones that have been areas of great pain? Even though you
may feel they are too much for Him. Or that He cannot help you. Or that He will not. Know this. Satan would love to keep you
right there (with his lies)! Right there in the mode of "fear", or "distrust". To do ANYTHING to disocurage you from going
to Him! But know this. Your God is much bigger than any problem and struggle that you have! He loves you. And He wants to
help you. He wants to be a part of every part of your life! But its up to you to ask Him into these areas. It's up to
you to ask for Him to help!
