Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Trust Issues


2 Chronicles 16:7b
‘…because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the Lord your God,’

It was another Martha experience for me last weekend. Tris’ family came for a three-day vacation, along with the inlaws of his sister. Top stress factor for me as the homemaker is their meals of course. For one, my pots and pans are used to cooking for four; second, I have to consider the seniors’ not-salty, not-sweet rule; and third, I’m really not a seasoned cook! You can imagine me praying really hard as I sautéed, boiled, and served that pochero. And yes, God answered my prayers. It tasted well enough that I just have to boast it was all from above. The next morning, when I served them the breakfast omelet, my father-in-law commented: ‘This tastes very good too. Your prayers worked again!’ I smiled and said nothing. Because I did nothing. And what my heart actually heard was that I didn’t trust God for that simple dish. And that was distasteful to Him.

Thirty-years in service and you would expect the godly King Asa to end his term in flying colors. He was the reformist of their time. The one who abolished idolatry without reservations and who restored true worship in the land. But in this chapter, when the northern king came to his doors and threatened to put a siege outside his walls, the always-been-trusting ruler was found wanting. At the first sight of crisis, his logical faculties did some math and found a winning way out. His solution: send a bribery to Ben-Hadad to betray his treaty with Israel’s Baasha. It worked actually, with a surplus of stones and timbers from the siege structure. Judah was safe and everybody’s happy. All except Asa. For God sent the seer Hanani to meet and rebuke him for not relying on the Lord, plus more wars and a foot disease affliction on the way. Sadly though, instead of turning back to God, he went on walking with his pride. Up until he breathed his last.

Trusting God is one of those front pagers in our Christian Walk Manual. We knew it since Day One. From trusting Him as our Savior, we progressed to trusting Him with the daily facets of our lives. However, at Year 10 or so, it seems that our trusting became more like a byword and a given. As if the statement ‘I trust Him for my life’ - uttered years ago- will encompass the whole lifespan. Why else would the model prayer say ‘daily bread’ if He designed it sufficient for a month’s supply? Why would He command unceasing prayer if my Sunday prayer is already enough? Are His miracles only for parting seas and raising the dead? Don’t we need His help for our every breath? Will you dare not trust Him for that?
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Trust Issues


2 Chronicles 16:7b
‘…because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the Lord your God,’

It was another Martha experience for me last weekend. Tris’ family came for a three-day vacation, along with the inlaws of his sister. Top stress factor for me as the homemaker is their meals of course. For one, my pots and pans are used to cooking for four; second, I have to consider the seniors’ not-salty, not-sweet rule; and third, I’m really not a seasoned cook! You can imagine me praying really hard as I sautéed, boiled, and served that pochero. And yes, God answered my prayers. It tasted well enough that I just have to boast it was all from above. The next morning, when I served them the breakfast omelet, my father-in-law commented: ‘This tastes very good too. Your prayers worked again!’ I smiled and said nothing. Because I did nothing. And what my heart actually heard was that I didn’t trust God for that simple dish. And that was distasteful to Him.

Thirty-years in service and you would expect the godly King Asa to end his term in flying colors. He was the reformist of their time. The one who abolished idolatry without reservations and who restored true worship in the land. But in this chapter, when the northern king came to his doors and threatened to put a siege outside his walls, the always-been-trusting ruler was found wanting. At the first sight of crisis, his logical faculties did some math and found a winning way out. His solution: send a bribery to Ben-Hadad to betray his treaty with Israel’s Baasha. It worked actually, with a surplus of stones and timbers from the siege structure. Judah was safe and everybody’s happy. All except Asa. For God sent the seer Hanani to meet and rebuke him for not relying on the Lord, plus more wars and a foot disease affliction on the way. Sadly though, instead of turning back to God, he went on walking with his pride. Up until he breathed his last.

Trusting God is one of those front pagers in our Christian Walk Manual. We knew it since Day One. From trusting Him as our Savior, we progressed to trusting Him with the daily facets of our lives. However, at Year 10 or so, it seems that our trusting became more like a byword and a given. As if the statement ‘I trust Him for my life’ - uttered years ago- will encompass the whole lifespan. Why else would the model prayer say ‘daily bread’ if He designed it sufficient for a month’s supply? Why would He command unceasing prayer if my Sunday prayer is already enough? Are His miracles only for parting seas and raising the dead? Don’t we need His help for our every breath? Will you dare not trust Him for that?