Learning to Trust

I’m sitting on a porch right now, gazing into a forest of tall autumn-clad trees. It’s a myriad of warm colors, from mustard to burnt orange to rustic red. There’s something about the fall that gives you a sense of calm, fills your lungs up with breath – and brushes across your face with the wind of the Spirit saying, “It’s going to be okay.”

Fall is often seen as a time of change – and change is challenging. With every season closed is the hope of a new beautiful thing, sometimes one that we pine for and welcome, but the transition in between is often very, very challenging.

Why is that? Often in transition, we see something end without knowing what will come next, and that is an uncomfortable, if not scary, thing. Now, I’ve not always experienced that. In some ways, transition has happened very smoothly for me. The next thing was right there, waiting for me. But at other times, it has not. I think that sometimes God allows us to linger in transition for a reason. There’s a specific work that can be done in that season that cannot be done otherwise, and it is most likely a work that needs to be done in order for you to enter the next one.

I can honestly say, that I’m thankful that God makes us ready. That he teaches us hard lessons, and develops things in us during uncomfortable, messy seasons. I’ve just recently reached the other side of one of those seasons, that seemed to drag out for years of trusting and yearning, and the gift God’s given is so overwhelmingly good, that I’ve said to myself these things: This is so worth it. Every single moment of waiting was worth this. Did I wait long enough?? Am I ready? I’d wait this long all over again to have something this good.

Oh to Trust

It’s true, I really would. I think that I preach the same sort of message over and over again when I write because there are a few things in my life that the Lord has continually taught me that I understand. To trust him is one of those things. I am wholeheartedly convinced that trust is one of the most important things to the heart of God, that it is one of the most valuable.

Do you want to know why? This is what I’ve learned: trust is vital to love, and what God wants most from his children is their love (Deuteronomy 6:5). It’s one of the reasons he created us. He himself had a heart-wrenching longing, a passionate desire to share his love and glory with other beings (cf. Hosea 11:8).
One of the most simple and important things that we can know about love is that it is a great exchange. God’s love is ever-present to us; however, when you love someone you want them to feel your love! 

For us, the gateway to this exchange and this experience is trust.

Let Us Feel His Love by Trusting Him

Is that monumental, friends? I think it is.

Jesus wants you to feel his love. And you know what? When you allow God to do the work of trust in your heart and begin receiving his love, love in your heart towards him (and others! He is the source of love for everyone else!) will happen in response! God is the maker of love. He is love (1 John 4:7-12). He is where we receive love, learn how to receive it and give it.

Let Jesus do the work of trust in your heart. Let him build that with you. Let him show you that he’s trustworthy. That he sees beyond your imperfection and your fears and loves you still. Wholly, deeply, entirely!

Embracing uncomfortable places may be your way to reach that.

So relax; you’re in good hands. Beautiful things are happening right now.