Trusting God: How?

[Lefein]

After distilling a great many of my problems, I at last was lead to the kernal of this current epoch of trials.  Though God's trials are always multifaceted, the essay question on the test right now..."Do you actually trust me?"

Unfortunately, it seems the answer is a regretful "No".  Various reasons, various circumstances, various roots for why I have difficulty trusting anyone, the fulcrum of that anyone including God.

"If I cannot trust God, I cannot trust anyone".

So, this area is a difficult one, and for many other Christians I am sure.  When crisis comes, trust is violated.  But how does one trust God?  What are the practical ways that one can not just "put trust" in God, but to actually Trust, in the sense of a deep, abiding, peace giving, knowing sort of Trust, not a superficial trust, that so many of us including myself unfortunately have.

These are serious issues, since they get to the root of our fears.  Most of us have not seen God face to face, or even heard his audible voice, or at least...I have not that I know of.  Cherubim have yet to descend out of Heaven with God enthroned issuing me the edict to go east and find my destiny there, and Christ has yet to sit on my bed and talk with me for an hour about how I have nothing to fear, and the desires of my heart are true, and worthy, in his hands, and that nothing shall hinder my noble petitions.

I understand, that it takes faith to trust God, and faith is the substance of things not yet seen, speak what isn't as if it was, and all that.  

But there comes a time, when dew drops do not satisfy what the body craves from a fountain, even when he's praying for water in the desert.  He is thankful for the dew, but his heart desires to bathe; yet desert is all he sees on the horizon.  When will he see results?  "Press on" says his mind, you will yet see the glory of God, "Press on" he repeats through parched lips, "Press on"...But the new day arises, and still dew, but abundance is still so far away.

Is he thankless, because he desires a fountain, and prays for it even though God provides him dew?

Or is there something more to trusting God, and how does one trust God in the desert?  We must, that is true...and because we must, it is imperative that we know how.  In the same way that we want the water of our desires, and through the desert have dew...so too is Trust like the dew.  We have dewdrop trust, but the fountains of the deep are still.  If we do not know how to dig the well into the deep places of water where Trust babbles, and flows clean, and clear...How can we irrigate the land where God can bring forth the promises, and unspoiled answers to our prayers?  How can it rain with no water of Trust to evaporate upward into Heaven, where it will fall again as the water of our answers and desires given?

In essence: How to Trust?  A practical guide, for the important questions of a Christian.

Is there anyone with the Holy Spirit in them, who will serve as his pen for Christians like me?  I would be thankful, as would many others if one of you has been given the gift of knowledge here.

[Paul Hazelwood]

Perhaps a question to you could be, why do you believe you do not trust God? 

There are many religious assertions that we can be influenced by that simply instill doubt rather than demonstrate a true lack of trust.

[Lefein]

I suppose the most reasonable way to answer that would be;

I believe I do not trust him, because I am cranky at him to put it mildly.  And there are almost "theoretical assertions" about his character (its really hard to say it accurately, almost like rumours about him in my inner being you might say) that when they appear, cause me to feel repulsed by that particular assertion of his character, or actions.

Such assertions that my lot in life is for God to be "ironic" with me.  I know it should not be true, and it isn't nice to say it, but there is that repulsion, that makes me feel that I do not trust God.  Especially when there is apparent evidence of it being more true than not...like circumstances that are very hurtful, and things that I've prayed would not even come close to happening, but skirt the edge of the cliff, so to speak.

And as seen in the Marriage in Heaven thread, a repulsion that causes me to hold God at a fair distance, which I believe is because I don't believe that I trust that God is going to be all that nice to me, or gentle.  That my lot in his plan is to be constantly at war, or to be constantly in the furnace.  Or else, in a numb silence, while I wait for the next firing of my clay.

Strange things like that, as I said it is hard to explain.  Like the man in the desert, I say "Press on, I will yet see the glory of God", and such things like that.  But there is a "Spot" in there somewhere, that feels resentment I believe, and distrust.  Not just of God, but of others too.

These things are rot, and I know it.  The options say I must get rid of the rot, or lose.  I just don't know how to get rid of the rot.

I certainly don't mean to sound negative, or immature...Only that this is something that has been bothersome for a few years, and I am 20 now, I don't have time to waste having rot inside of me, or even the hint of it, if I am to be Excellent.

[shawn]

We should indeed trust God but that trust is built many times through pain.  I know it has been that way in my life.  I know what it is to wallow in the depths of sin, despair, depression, anxiety, and addiction.  I know what it is to dread seeing the sunrise because it means you have to live another day.  I know what it is to be homeless.  My trust in God came when I realized that he loved me enough to let me wallow in my own filth only for a season.  How can I not trust in God?  He restored what the locusts had eaten.  He replaced anxiety with peace.  He replaced depression with joy.  How can I not trust him even in the mist of a storm?  Am I not still his child?  He chased me...and didn't accept my rejection.  If he delivered me before...he will indeed deliver me again!  I believe with all my heart that I am in God's hands in every situation.  This is not dependent on me...or my actions.  He works everything for my good.  Will that faith be tested again?  I'm sure.  Will I have moments of weakness and doubt.  I would imagine.  But, when I do I go to the places in my life where he has delivered me.  I remember.  I realize his love for me hasn't changed.  And I find my trust again.

[Molly]

Love may be unconditional but trust has to be earned.

This goes for God, too.  We trust until there is no longer reason to trust.  Or we don't trust at all, ever.  But if we are faced with the trustworthiness of One, year after year, how could we refuse?

I learned to trust God the way King David did as he manned the lonely sentinel with his sheep, far from any human help.  The biggest predictor of future behavior is past behavior.


1 Samuel 17:37
The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you."

[shawn]

Love may be unconditional but trust has to be earned.

This goes for God, too.  We trust until there is no longer reason to trust.  Or we don't trust at all, ever.  But if we are faced with the trustworthiness of One, year after year, how could we refuse?

I learned to trust God the way King David did as he manned the lonely sentinel with his sheep, far from any human help.  The biggest predictor of future behavior is past behavior.


1 Samuel 17:37
The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you."

Well said.

[thinktank]

I suppose the most reasonable way to answer that would be;

I believe I do not trust him, because I am cranky at him to put it mildly.  And there are almost "theoretical assertions" about his character (its really hard to say it accurately, almost like rumours about him in my inner being you might say) that when they appear, cause me to feel repulsed by that particular assertion of his character, or actions.

Such assertions that my lot in life is for God to be "ironic" with me.  I know it should not be true, and it isn't nice to say it, but there is that repulsion, that makes me feel that I do not trust God.  Especially when there is apparent evidence of it being more true than not...like circumstances that are very hurtful, and things that I've prayed would not even come close to happening, but skirt the edge of the cliff, so to speak.

And as seen in the Marriage in Heaven thread, a repulsion that causes me to hold God at a fair distance, which I believe is because I don't believe that I trust that God is going to be all that nice to me, or gentle.  That my lot in his plan is to be constantly at war, or to be constantly in the furnace.  Or else, in a numb silence, while I wait for the next firing of my clay.

Strange things like that, as I said it is hard to explain.  Like the man in the desert, I say "Press on, I will yet see the glory of God", and such things like that.  But there is a "Spot" in there somewhere, that feels resentment I believe, and distrust.  Not just of God, but of others too.

These things are rot, and I know it.  The options say I must get rid of the rot, or lose.  I just don't know how to get rid of the rot.

I certainly don't mean to sound negative, or immature...Only that this is something that has been bothersome for a few years, and I am 20 now, I don't have time to waste having rot inside of me, or even the hint of it, if I am to be Excellent.

I wouldn't worry about it. I personally see God as my worst enemy and also my best friend, he's caused me a ton of pain, but it is mainly his disciplined rod smacking me over the head because of the mistakes. I think it's ok to see God as one's enemy because you'll soon learn that he meant it for good and the weight comes off ones shoulders. This is a dangerous world we live in and it's easy to fall into a pit, so God gives his kids a good whack to save them, I'm not a big fan of heavy discipline im a bit of a liberal, but Gods ways can be a bit old fashioned and foreign. To them living in medival times Gods punishments were probably quite normal in a world where people kill each other, whips, bideheadingss, burning houses etc.
So we are an abnormal/different generation that does not understand discipline the same way as those in the past. Thankfully I live in this generation.

[Lefein]

Hmmn...Thank you guys for the comforting words.  I really don't know what's been going on this year really >_> all kinds of "rush rush rush" crash course stuff with God, I guess I just got a bit confused about it.

Thanks though, to everyone.  God bless!  I'm sure I'll get through the issue after some guided study. :)

[Molly]

..all kinds of "rush rush rush" crash course stuff with God,

wow.  I had exactly that experience a couple of years ago--just like you describe it--rush, rush, rush.  Makes you wonder what's going on...


:dontknow:

1After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. 2Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: 3"Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God."

--Rev 7

[jabcat]

Don't know what your upbringing and/or any particular early life experiences or "messages" were that you got, Lefein, about struggling vs. trust, trust vs. disappointment/letdown, etc.  Some of my early messages received about God were somewhat frightening.  Also, much teaching (and real-life examples) were of our need to struggle and perform to be good enough - tenuously hanging by a thread, lest we trip up and split hell wide open.

So on various levels, I had a hard time trusting, and still actually have a ways to go with that - although much healing has occurred over the past 20 years (your lifetime  :mshock:).  One of the main things I think is key, is that God is much different than I had imagined; and maybe even more importantly, much better and trustworthy than I did and do realize.  The revelation of UR has helped with that, but I guess a point is, some of those fears and distortions can take a long time to heal, and for our own point of reference to properly adjust.  The good news is, God's there all the time - teaching, loving, leading where He wants us to go.  We see an inch, and fear we won't have what we need.  He sees a million miles and knows exactly what we need, when we need it, and how to give it.

The scripture says if our earthly father knows how to give good gifts to his children, how much more our Heavenly Father.  As we alternately struggle to hold onto Him and push Him away - He's right there, all the time, holding onto us.

God bless.

[Lefein]

Father my Lord, I ask that you would help me to repent of my foolishness, and heal the wounded spirit that is me.

Hmmn.  As a request for equipment, does anyone have some things that help them when they are at their "battle time" or their "midnight hour"?  Like, a quick arrow they can pull from their quiver to launch, and drive back the foe for rest?  Things that help when Heaven feels like brass when you're calling for reinforcements. (sorry for the allegorical language, but its the only way to really get the image across).  I just think it helps to be prepared for the next battle.  Knowing is half the battle, preparation is the other.

[Molly]

3Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

4Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

5Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

6And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

7Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

8Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

9For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

--Psalm 37





Isaiah 54:17
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

[tutmoses]

Lefein, this is all SO familiar! At the end of it all you will look back as I'm doing now but while you're in the middle of it, sure you feel like you're in the middle of a hurricane.

The essence of trust is honesty, so I've been pushed beyond a respectful, superficial worship firstly to say "Lord I believe, help my unbelief!" Then to become more and more bold. Job is fantastic for realising that you can say the unsayable without being blasted. Proverbs 12:22 :  "Lying lips are hateful to Jehovah, but those who deal faithfulness are His delight." Not a
law but just to reassure you that this is what God
wants and so is probably working on achieving.

It's also worth remembering that trust in itself shouldn't become a law to beat yourself up with - you
can't earn faith and thus earn approval. As Job says, "Give me, O God, the pledge you demand." (17:3)

[Cardinal]

 :cloud9: Jesus said you can do NOTHING without Me. Ask Him for the faith to believe Him, the love to love Him with. It's all about Him, everything. Blessings....