Mark spoke on the subject of blind trust this morning. When you play games which involve blindfolds, you soon find out if you really trust the person giving you directions or not! If we don’t, we tend to move nervously and slowly; if we do, we can step out more confidently.
Sometimes it’s hard for us to trust God; there are times when we feel like life is lived with the blindfold on and we aren’t always sure if we trust God or not. It’s easier if we can see where and how He is leading us, but there will always be periods of uncertainty and God wants us to continue to trust Him at those times instead of making our own contingency plans.
Ps 9:10 remind us that those who know God’s name will put their trust in Him. We need to know who God is, understanding that He is our provider (in both the material and spiritual realms.) God does not forsake those who trust Him, but promises to be with us to lead and guide us, even in those times when we feel uncertain of His direction.
Prov 3:5-6 reminds us that God is looking for whole-hearted trust. We have to seek God’s ways first (see Matt 6:33), knowing that God’s leading is available always.
Jer 17:7-8 assures us that those who trust in the Lord will be blessed by Him. Even during seasons of practical need and drought, we can be like well-watered trees, yielding fruit all the time. Every Christian will go through periods of drought, but we do not hav to be anxious in those times, for God is able to use us to bless others even when we feel dry ourselves.
Is 26:3-4 talks of how God will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are fixed on Him. Shalom, that sense of wellbeing and wholeness, is available to us in God. The word ‘mind’ does not just refer to our thoughts but encourages us to fix all our creative imagination on God. We might paraphrase these verses saying ‘those whose creative imaginations are founded on God will know shalom in all its fulness.’
Num 6:24-27 tells us of the priestly blessing which Moses spoke to Aaron to pass on to the people of God. This prayer talks of God blessing and being gracious to His people and making His face shine on them and concludes ‘So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.’ (Num 6:27) This involves invoking (calling, asking, seeking) God’s name so that He may come in blessing on others.
Ps 32:10 reminds us that the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in Him. Our trust in God is never wasted. God’s love surrounds us – a love that is not flawed or affected by stress or illness or fatigue in the way that human love is. His love never ends and never fails (1 Cor 13:8).