It can be easy to trust God when things are going well. During these times we may be unaware of his presence because everything is so simple. But where do we turn when our lives begin to fall apart? For most of us, our default is towards negativity. We do not like what is happening and are prone to view the immediate circumstances above everything else.
After all, it’s easy to lift our hands in a worship service and say we trust God. We encourage each other to “keep the faith” and “have faith”. But when “life” happens and it’s time to live it, that’s when we need to answer the question:
Can we really trust God?
Trust is not something we do instinctively. And it’s hard enough for us to trust our family, friends, even ourselves – so what about a God we can’t see and don’t understand?
The underlying reason for this comes from our lack of belief in who God is and what he says. Trust is a choice, and more often than not we only choose to trust God when our lives seem to be going well. But when difficulties arise, we ask God where he is or even blame him instead of seeing the situations as an opportunity to grow.
We are just like the Israelites following Moses in the wilderness.
And the same God who promised to deliver them says the same to us:
“The Lord had said to them, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgement. I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.’” (Exodus 6:6-7)
First, God gave the Israelites this promise. Then he demonstrated his power by sending ten plagues to the land of Egypt, prompting Pharaoh to release the Israelites from slavery. He comes through on his word. Yet as they make their journey through the wilderness, they again begin to question God and his promise. It was too hard – hard to find food and water, it was hot, uncomfortable, and full of unknowns. At least in Egypt, they knew what to expect in life. It got to where the Israelites believed it would have been better to serve the Egyptians for the rest of their lives than be put up against these obstacles and trials.
Through their eyes, they would have been better off as slaves.
The Israelites were in such a posture of negativity that they didn’t trust the promises of God. They were ready and willing to sacrifice the life of freedom God promised them.
But this wasn’t the plan of the Lord.
When the Israelites came to the Red Sea with the Egyptians pursuing them, God didn’t take away the Red Sea. Instead he led them through it. He didn’t take away their hunger or thirst, but he provided them with food and water. In the moments that appeared hopeless, the Lord provided an opportunity for the Israelites to see their circumstances through his eyes.
Sometimes we act just like the Israelites in the Bible. At times we may even be about to give up the promises in store for us, when God is just asking for our trust. He won’t always take away the obstacles. But he wants us to press on and trust his view in place of our own.
We can’t walk out of the wilderness until we have walked through it. When we trust the Lord throughout the whole journey, we step into a place of confidence that allows for joy and peace. We start to see with new eyes, eyes fixed on who God is and what he says.
After all, why would we settle for remaining slaves when God’s promises await?
