Trust. Wait. Rest.

For much of my life I had to know the answer, I had to have a plan, I had to have things figured out, I had to be in control.  And if one of those things weren't happening, I would be unsettled, restless, full of worry.  Can you relate at all?

This past year God has been teaching many things, cuz I got a lot to work on,  but the overwhelming & repeating lessons I am being taught are to Trust God, Wait on God, Rest in God.  Not an easy training course, but necessary.

I have been placed in numerous situations that I could not possibly know the outcome, make a definite plan or fix it and I could either worry myself to death or trust that "God's got it." (Like my friend Annie always sings.) I was folding laundry one day and a thought came to me: I don't have to know all the details, I just need to trust the one that does.  

Of course that is easier said than done, and I have found it is a daily process.  My mind starts to plan or drift into what I think should happen, or I start playing the "What if....?" game.  Then I have to ask Jesus for help to reel it back in, into a place where I am trusting in Him, not my plans.  I love chapter 37 of Psalms, God made it come alive to me this year as a source of water to my soul.  Read it, it's just AWESOME! But a few of the verses that spoke to me are as follows:

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Trust in the Lord and do good.

    Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Ps 37:3

Commit everything you do to the Lord.
    Trust him, and he will help you. Ps 37:5

Be still in the presence of the Lord,
    and wait patiently for him to act. Ps 37:7

Stop being angry!
    Turn from your rage!
Do not lose your temper—
    it only leads to harm. For the wicked will be destroyed,
    but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land. Ps 37:8-9

For me when I read these scriptures I see the promises of God.  That as we trust him fully, he will take care of us, he will keep us safe, he will help us, and he will act for us.  I don't know about you, but when God does something, it's a whole lot better then when I "try" to do something.  I would rather have him defending me, than me protecting myself, he is WAY better at it.  

I have found that as I learn to trust God in different areas & situations in my life, something happens: It makes it a whole lot easier to wait for him.  I can wait because I know he's faithful.  I don't have to march in, try to fix it all my way, I can wait and let him do it His way.  Now if I didn't believe that he is faithful & trustworthy & able, if I didn't trust him completely I would be worrying & trying to do it it myself, which still happens, I ain't gonna lie.  But that's how I can tell if I'm trusting, when I look at if I am waiting and resting.  

You see once you trust, you can wait and ultimately rest.  You can be at peace, even though things aren't resolved, because you know God has got it. He's got you, he's got your situation, he's got your future.  I hope that as you are facing difficulties & uncertainties that you can turn them over to God and truly trust Him.  As you release control, you will find yourself at rest in His living arms and free. He wants to take care of you & to give you peace & rest, if you will only trust Him, if you will only LET Him.  

"Come to me, all who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest." Matt 11:28