Do You Trust In God?

Many times when we read the story of how God worked through Moses and Aaron to free the children of Israel for Egyptian bondage and all the Miracles he did and then when see how the children of Israel kept on having a weak faith by wanting to go back to Egypt even though they saw all the great miracles that God had done. We usually shake our heads in disbelief on how these people could have such a lack of trust in God after they had experienced the hand of God in their lives.

We have the same thoughts when we read in the New Testament about the life of Jesus and how He did so many miracles that proved that He was the Son of God, yet so many did not trust in God even though they saw these things with their own eyes. It is easy for us to think this way because we get to read about all the events that took place and what happens next but its a different situation whenever you are there experiencing the moment at that time not knowing what the outcome may be or the amount of influence the others are having on you because of their negative ways and fears they are expressing.

While it is true that these people certainly should have had trust in God especially since they were seeing first hand the miracles of God, we today are not much different than those people back then. For instance, our nation was built upon the foundation that there is a God and that our nation would thrive if we put our trust in Him. In fact many of our forefathers understood that our nation would be great if people would live by the principles found in the Bible. Beginning in the late 1800’s our nation began putting the phrase “In God we trust” on coins at first, then in 1956 president Eisenhower made this phrase our national motto and it was also put on our paper money as well. While this is certainly a wonderful motto, as you look around our nation today do you think we really trust in God?

I think it’s very obvious the answer is no. In fact, there are people who are even trying to get this phrase taken from our money and our nation seems to be coming more and more like Rome was in the first century where just about anything goes. We have more and more people who are seeking other gods and who have turned there back on the only true God, which again reinforces the idea that as a nation we do not trust in God.

But lets take it a step further. As a Christian do you find yourself trusting in God in every aspect of your life or do you find yourself trusting more in yourself and or someone else to help you with your problem. When there are big decisions to be made, do you make them on your own or do you trust in God enough to pray to Him for guidance? I believe every Christians today struggles with putting their full trust in God in every aspect of their lives because it so it easy for us with our modern day technology and the attitude that our society has on taking care of things yourself to take matters into your own hands.

So, again I ask you do really trust in God in every aspect of your life?

Look at some New Testament examples:

Acts 5:17-20: “Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison.  But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life."

Now think about this, you have already been arrested for preaching about Jesus and now you are freed from jail only to be told to go back to the temple and preach some more. If you had been in their shoes, would you have enough trust in God to go preach some more or would you run away and hide? Well, we learn that apostles had enough trust in God so they went and preached some more and once again they found themselves surrounded by the opposing Jews and being questioned, but this did not concern them.

Acts 5:29-32: “But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him, God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.  And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him."

Again, I ask you, would you have enough trust in God to speak so boldly to a group of people who would love to kill you for what you are preaching? Well, the apostles were willing and more than happy to die if they had to for the cause of Christ. After this they had a private meeting to decide what to do to these men, and they decided to leave them alone for now, based on the advice of Gamaliel.  Watch what happens next:

Acts 5:40-42:  “And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.  So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.  And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.” 

Here we see that the apostles were beaten for proclaiming Jesus, but this still didn’t cause them to loose their trust in God. Instead, they rejoiced that they had suffered for the cause of Christ, and they continued preaching Jesus daily in the temple and in every house. Again, I ask you would you have done the same or would have decided that you didn’t want to be beaten any more and kept your mouth shut. Well, that shouldn’t be the case, but many times Christians fear of others out weighs their fear of God, and they will cower to the peer pressure.

Now I want ask some questions that will deal with our personal lives that will help us determine if we truly trust God in every aspect of our lives.

1.  Do you trust God in your marriage?  If you conduct your marriage as God has described in his Word, you will have a great marriage?

2.  Do you trust in God when it comes to rearing your children?  Do you teach them about God and show them how to live their lives by following God’s commands?

3.  Whenever you have a big decision to make, do you trust that God will help you find the answer if you pray to Him for help?

4.  If you have a great tragedy happen in your life, will you blame God for it, or will trust in Him enough to help you through that difficult time and realize that He makes all things work out for the good in the end?

5.  Do you trust enough in God to stand up for what is right even though everyone around you is against that truth?

Questions, like these, will help us determine how much we really trust in God. If we find our selves always worrying about things, this should be a sign to us that we do not have as much trust in God as we should. I think Jesus sums it all up:

Matthew 6:24-34: " No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.  Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?  Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?  So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'  For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will take thought of the things of itself.”