Inner Transformation
By Sarah Walker

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9 (ESV)

If you google “self-improvement,” in .48 seconds, you will have access to over 124,000,000 articles to help you be your best you…from “42 Practical Ways To Improve Yourself” to “Self-Improvement Checklists”!

Clearly, there’s no shortage of resources on self-improvement, and, indeed, it’s necessary for each person to improve. However, when it comes to spiritual change, I’ve found that the more my attention turns inward and I’m focused on myself, the more I see my own sinful shortcomings. The more I try to fix myself to be more godly, the more I realize just how incapable I am of renewing myself.

When we will ourselves to improve, we may see success for a time. We may feel in control of our own transformation, but honestly, it’s an illusion. It doesn’t satisfy or provide lasting joy. Only Jesus Christ can do that. When we turn the control over to Him and let Him do His refining work in our lives, He’ll do what we can’t do as He changes us from the inside. We won’t have to force our way to change, using sheer willpower to get us there.

Our own hard work at changing ourselves and removing our sinful patterns will always fail. Perhaps not right away. Perhaps we can claim success for a time, believing that we did it, that we improved ourselves solely through our own efforts. But eventually it - - and all the safeguards and controls we’ve put in place - - will fail.

This has been a battle for me in my parenting. I thought I had good safeguards in place to ensure my fear or anger never got the upper hand, but reality proved me wrong. I’ve lost my temper at my kids more times than I care to admit. And when I’ve tried to change myself, I have always failed because each attempt involved my trying to elicit change in my own power.

What I’ve discovered is that despite all the self-improvement resources out there, it’s only when I’ve released my control to God, letting Him change me from the inside out, that I begin to see real changes. That’s not to say that I never lose my temper or make decisions out of fear. I still do. A lot. But God is faithfully changing me from the inside, and He will do the same for you if you let Him.

GOING DEEPER:

1.    If you are trying to change yourself through your own willpower, will you release your control to Jesus and let Him transform you from the inside?

FURTHER READING:
Proverbs 3:5-8; Philippians 1:6

Sarah is married to Scott and is a full-time mom to their two young sons. She and Scott are involved in a small group focused on prayer and are expecting to welcome their third child in January.

Peace
By Lisa Boyer

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7 (NASB)

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, PEACE, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV, emphasis added)

It was an uncomfortable feeling, no, not uncomfortable, it was awful. I had knots in my stomach. Right away, I knew what it was: anxiety. I was anxious. I quickly tried to figure out why, but nothing came to me. As I contemplated my condition, Philippians 4:6 came to mind, “be anxious for nothing.” I laughed as I realized that in my terrible state, I was being very biblical. I was, in fact, anxious about nothing!

When times are tough, we go in search of peace. When we need God’s peace, we are quick to follow the whole verse of Philippians 4:6. We let our requests be made known to God by prayer and supplication. And we try our best to do it with thanksgiving. But when there are no obvious problems, do we need peace? Do we go in search of it? Or does it become the neglected fruit of the Spirit, sought after only when it becomes obviously missing, replaced with anxiety, sometimes without cause?

The other fruit of the Spirit…love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control…affect those around us in obvious ways. Peace can be so easily neglected. And yet, when peace is neglected, anxiety takes its place. And when we are anxious, can we truly display the other fruit? Anxiety affects our ability and tendencies to show love, to have joy, to display patience, to be kind, good, faithful or gentle and most certainly to exhibit self-control.

In Paul’s closing remarks to the Thessalonians, he said, “Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance” (2 Thessalonians 3:16, NIV). Every circumstance. Good times, bad times, all the time.

Let’s proactively pursue peace today by taking everything to God in prayer, with thanksgiving.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Do you find yourself being anxious? Will you pray today and let your requests be made known to God with thanksgiving?

FURTHER READING:
Colossians 3:15; John 14:27

Lisa is married to Ted and they have two sons in college. Lisa serves as an event photographer at Oakwood and wherever else she is needed. 

Bypassing the Red Sea

By Elin Henderson

 “So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea.”

Exodus 13:18a (NLT)

How many of us have found ourselves in a “Red Sea” moment? God has painted us into a corner and we are forced to cry out to Him. Water on one side, an attacking army on the other; there is no way out, unless God intervenes. 

Now, imagine that you were friends with the Israelite people and, from a distance, you could look down and see their dilemma. What would be your first response? Look for some way to rescue them, right? Maybe go and fight off that army for them or drag some boats over for them to use.  (I know we are really “imagining” a lot here!)  My point is that when we see loved ones in a Red Sea situation, what is our initial reaction? We look for ways to rescue them. It’s a natural human thing! 

Yet, God had something pretty powerful that He wanted to show the Israelite people. He was going to grow their faith in an amazing way by stepping in, against all odds and showing His amazing power to save. Had someone else stepped in and “rescued” them, would the Israelites have seen this? Would their faith have grown?

So many times I find myself stepping into Red Sea situations - - whether it is in my children’s lives, my spouse’s, or my friends - - and trying to rescue them, to help them bypass their Red Sea. God has painted them into a corner, to show them their desperate need for Him, and His mighty power to save…and then I come in with the cavalry…and the teaching moment is gone.

Oh God, help us to see Your hand at work and allow You to use the Red Sea moments that you bring into our lives and the lives of our loved ones! Give us the grace to not swoop in to save, but to patiently wait on You to move and work. Give us Your perspective so that we may see these teaching moments that You have planned! Help us to “stand still and see the Salvation of the Lord” (Exodus 14:13).

           

GOING DEEPER:

1.    Can you think of a time when you intervened to save someone from a Red Sea moment?

2.    How can we support people in times of trouble, without a full-blown rescue attempt? How can we point people (ourselves included) to look to the Lord in the midst of the trials that they/we are facing, and not always seek a way out?          

FURTHER READING:

Psalms 118:16, 136:11-16; Romans 8:28

Oakwood’s missionaries Elin Henderson (a registered nurse) and her husband Phil serve as church planters with Ethnos 360 in Mozambique, Africa.  Elin is mother to eighteen-year-old Callie and fifteen-year-old Elias.

Agree to Disagree

By Susan Klein

“One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.”

Romans 14:5 (NIV)

Have you ever had a major disagreement with someone?  One in which you felt very strongly that your position was right, yet so did the other person? Perhaps your position was even backed by Scripture, but the other person’s was not. When do we exercise grace, and when do we take a purposeful stand for the truth?

I had one of these encounters. It was with someone who was raised with the same biblical beliefs as mine. However, as we advanced in our life-journeys, the other person’s path took her in a completely different direction. I felt the great deceiver, Satan, had her believing a lie as she made a life-choice that I believed was contradictory to God’s Word. My heart ached for her to be so blind-sided by this wrong belief that our culture touted as right. She felt equally bad for me, feeling that I was clinging to archaic beliefs, not being culturally relevant and accepting of her choice. What transpired was not at all biblical: We argued.

Scripture is clear that the Lord’s servants are to not take part in foolish quarrels or arguments. Instead we are to gently instruct those who oppose God’s Word, so that the Holy Spirit can convict them and lead them to a knowledge of the truth. [1]  When I argued with my friend, we were each trying to impose our own beliefs on the other, which was foolish and futile. Neither of us was about to change our battle position. I am not her Holy Spirit and cannot convict her of something she is not choosing to believe, especially when I am argumentative instead of “gentle.”

So what might have been, or still could be, a better solution when faced with similar circumstances? Perhaps, when at an impasse, we need to agree to disagree. That doesn’t mean I change my mind or my convictions.  But it does mean that I won’t expect her to change her choice based on my beliefs, and she won’t expect me to change my beliefs based on her choice. We respectfully disagree, allowing the Holy Spirit to work it out as He sees fit, in God’s perfect timing.

I have learned that our battle is not with each other, but with the enemy - - the deceiver - - Satan. (Eph.  6:12)  And one of our greatest weapons in that battle against him is prayer, out-loud prayer that the enemy can hear.

GOING DEEPER:

1. How might you avoid quarreling with someone who believes a lie?

2. Are you wielding your spiritual battle weapons?

FURTHER READING:

[1] 2 Timothy 2:22-26, 3:16-17; 1 Corinthians 10:31-33

 Susan is married to Mark, and co-leads an in-home small group. She serves as a mentor to young women, and is a member of Oakwood’s Peace Team, helping people work through conflict.

Resilience in Community
By Lexi Cole Ellis

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds."
Hebrews 10:24 (NIV)

Recently, I read Sheryl Sandberg’s book Option B. She and co-author, Adam Grant, explore resilience by combining lessons with research and anecdotes. One lesson that stood out to me was how essential community is in order to build resilience.

“Resilience is not just built in individuals. It is built among individuals in our neighborhoods, schools, towns and governments. When we build resilience together, we become stronger ourselves and form communities that can overcome obstacles and prevent adversity." [1]

But beyond the studies and experts and examples in the book, Scripture has always made that very point. We were not meant to journey alone, nor is our faith meant to be exclusively private. We were created to be in fellowship and active relationship with not only our God, but with a community of believers. We were created and commanded to love and encourage (or spur on) each other.

Of course, it makes sense that God would command something that truly is for our best. Being in community allows us to build resilience and keep faith through times of heartache and struggles. It also allows us to be the tangible hands and feet of Christ to others - - through prayer, encouragement and acts of service - - as they walk through pain and trials. When we live this, not only do we show Christ's love as an example to unbelievers, but we "become stronger ourselves," as we witness God's work in our lives and others.

Which is why community is worth it…despite the mess. It's worth the sometimes awkwardness or occasional conflict. It's worth being vulnerable so others can support and love. It's worth the growing pains when things don't go as planned or our selfishness gets in the way of the ideal of what biblical community should look like.

Having resilience through real pain and trials isn't individualistic. Yes, God designed each of us uniquely, but with a similar blueprint. A common design in which being in community both benefits us and allows us to be a blessing to others.

Today and every day, may we enter into community with other believers by being vulnerable ourselves in our own struggles, and by encouraging others as they walk through theirs.

GOING DEEPER:

1. How does your "resilience in community" look? How can you be more resilient, vulnerable and authentic with those God has put in your life?

2. Who in your village/community needs a reminder they are resilient? What's one small thing you can do this week?

FURTHER READING:
1 Thessalonians 5:14; Galatians 6:2; 1 Peter 4:8-11

Lexi’s family consist of her, her husband, Andrew, her daughter, Sloane, and her dog, Calvin. She teaches sixth grade Reading and Writing and serves with Children’s Ministries.

[1] Adam Grant & Sheryl Sandberg, Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2017).

Just in the Nick of Time

By Elin Henderson

“For I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.”

Psalms 55:16 (KJV)

Who doesn’t love a good movie or book where all hope is fleeting, the end is drawing near, the enemy appears to be winning, and THEN… just in the nick of time, the hero arrives on his white steed and saves the day?! The hype and suspense leading up to the victory is often frustrating and hard to endure. But once the final blow is dealt, everything makes sense. You breathe a sigh of relief and leave the movie theater, or put down the book, with a sense of satisfaction!

I am amazed as I look through Scripture how many times it seems that all hope was lost, and defeat seemed imminent, but THEN…just in the nick of time, God intervenes in a miraculous and incredible way - - bringing victory not defeat - - relief not disappointment.

In 1 Samuel 23:14-29, David certainly encounters one such story. Saul had once again chased David into a trap. He was stuck between the proverbial rock and a hard place. Ironically, he was on a rock and in a hard place (a mountain)! He was surrounded on all sides with no way of escape. All hope seemed lost as the enemy advanced. But instead of panicking and giving in to anxiety when Saul was moving in for the kill, he wisely calls out to the Lord and THEN…just in the nick of time, a message comes to King Saul informing him that the Philistines were invading his homeland and he had better skedaddle home before he lost everything!  

Are you stuck between a rock and a hard place right now? Feeling frustrated and anxious? Keep looking to the Lord and calling out to Him. It’s often in the waiting for His deliverance that great changes happen in our own hearts as our faith is strengthened. So stand strong today. Be still and wait for His deliverance, for we are assured that…just in the nick of time, He will move, work and save! 

GOING DEEPER:

1.    Can you think of any other “just in the nick of time” stories in Scripture?

*hint: Genesis 22:1-19 – A father, a son and a big choice!!

*hint:  Exodus 14 – A LOT of people, an army and a Red Sea!

2. How does this impact your life today in the midst of your situation? 

FURTHER READING:

2 Peter 3:9; Exodus 14:13a; Isaiah 25:9

Oakwood’s missionaries Elin Henderson (a registered nurse) and her husband Phil serve as church planters with Ethnos 360 in Mozambique, Africa.  Elin is mother to eighteen-year-old Callie and fifteen-year-old Elias.

How Did We Serve You?

By Lisa Boyer

“…fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to Him, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul”

Deuteronomy 10:12 (NIV)

We’ve recently implemented a new customer service initiative at work. Every email sent out automatically has “How did we serve you?” added to the bottom. Clicking on the question takes you to a survey where you rate how we served you. The goal is that we achieve a rating of 4.5 out of 5 or better. So the “How did we serve you?” question has weighed heavily on our minds. 

One day, while I was pondering the “How did we serve you?” initiative, a different question popped into my mind and I found myself asking God…“How did I serve You?” While I have served in almost every ministry available at church, the heart of the question wasn’t about what I had done for Him. It was about how  I had done it. Had I represented Him well?  

Shortly after I began thinking about how I serve God, a mom of a girl that had been in my Sunday school class a few years ago casually mentioned that her daughter thought I was mean. Of course, I assumed it was because I had tried to make her daughter behave in class, but this mom shared with me that it was because of something I had said to her daughter when she walked into class one Sunday morning. The mom had heard what I’d said, so I asked her if she agreed. She said, “Yes.”

Wow. Clearly, I had not served God well that morning in Sunday School. I should have greeted her joyfully and reflected the love of Jesus; I was grieved by what I had done. My new question became “How will  I serve You?” And there was only one correct answer. The next time I saw the girl and her mom at church, I confessed that I’d failed to show Jesus’ love that morning. And then I apologized.

I wish I could say that I have perfected the art of serving God since then. But in truth, this has just reinforced how very dependent I am on His Holy Spirit in me, in order to serve Him well. In grace, I look back on that experience as a reminder: It can be too easy to get caught up in the act of serving God and forget that oh-so-important piece of how  we serve Him. My heart’s prayer this morning? Lord, how will I serve you today?

GOING DEEPER:

1.  How about you: How have you served Him?   

2.  While thinking of how you’ve served Him, did He bring something to mind that you need to do or change in order to serve Him better?

FURTHER READING:

Matthew 5:23-24; Philippians 2:13

Lisa is married to Ted and they have two adult sons. Lisa serves on a Sunday morning Welcoming Team at Oakwood. 

Nature’s Revelation

By Susan Klein

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.”

 Psalm 19:1-4 (NIV)

Who doesn’t enjoy watching the sky fill with blazing oranges and brilliant pinks as the sun sets on a warm summer night? Or driving through the countryside in the fall with a palette of colors splayed across the trees? God definitely delights our senses through His creation. But, have you ever stopped to ponder what He is saying through His creation? The above verse, as well as others in Scripture, allude to the fact that He speaks to us - -  not only through His Word - -  but also through His creation. While admiring its beauty, we should also consider its message.

In Acts 14, Paul and Barnabas are trying to lead a group of misguided people away from their idols to the One True God by using nature as an illustration. Paul states, “He has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their season…” (verse 17, NIV) How often do we look at a rainy day as just a spoiler of our outdoor plans? Yet, God is speaking his kindness and compassion by providing the rain for the crops so we don’t go hungry. Conversely, at times, He has withheld rain and caused drought when He is speaking His displeasure with His people.

In Romans 1, Paul informs us that God has made many things about Himself plainly known through His creation, but some just don’t see it or aren’t listening. “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities - - His eternal power and His divine nature - - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made so that men are without excuse.” (verse 20, NIV) How easy it is to get caught up in just enjoying His creation for our own personal pleasure. But God has valuable truths to reveal to us through His creation, if we are willing to listen.

Next time you admire that vibrant rainbow in the sky, ponder what God is speaking to you about His promises. When you gaze at those majestic mountaintops, listen for His voice to reveal His mighty power in your own life. When you hear of a tsunami or tornadoes that ravage towns and villages, ask God what He might be trying to convey through the devastation. He is faithful to answer. “He does not leave Himself without testimony.”

GOING DEEPER:

1. Read the verses below to see how God has spoken through His creation in the past.

2. Determine to seek His voice as you observe His creation in the future.

FURTHER READING:

Psalm 65:9-13; Habakkuk 3:3-6; Matthew 5:45

Susan is married to Mark, and co-leads an in-home small group. She serves as a mentor to young women, and is a member of Oakwood’s Peace Team, helping people work through conflict.

The Sting of Death

by Elin Henderson

“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”

I Corinthians 15:55 (KJV)

Don’t ask me why, but missionaries feel like they need to one up each other with creepy bug stories and pictures. “Oh, you have spiders the size of your hand, well, OURS are as big as dinner plates!” Although I must say, I recently killed a spider on the wall in my house and when it fell and hit the floor, it thumped! Spiders shouldn’t thump when they hit the ground, right?!

At a recent field conference in Africa, a friend of mine had a video and pictures to beat all. His ten-year-old son was holding a live scorpion in his hand and allowing it to walk all over!  My first thought was, They are crazy!  These people need a home assignment! But then he told me, “Don’t worry, that scorpion has no stinger. I cut it off!” Not that I would have wanted that creepy bug to crawl all over me, but without its sting, the scorpion was just another harmless bug. 

That small video really reminded me of the hope we have in Christ. When He died on the cross, He defeated death, forever removing its sting! In a sense, He cut the stinger off of the scorpion of death, so that it needn’t be feared. Then He rose - - victorious over the grave. We have this hope to hold on to: stingless death and victory over the grave! 

It’s what allowed the Apostle Paul to proclaim, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.”  And the author of Hebrews boldly states, “I will not fear what man can do to me.” Death became gain, and fear was defeated when the sting was cut off the scorpion of death that precious day so long ago.            

GOING DEEPER:                                                       

1.    Sorrow is a very real part of death for us as humans. How does the reminder of this verse in 1 Corinthians bring hope in the midst of the sorrow?

2.    How does knowing this truth give us boldness in our faith?

FURTHER READING:

Philippians 1:21; Hebrews 13:6

Oakwood’s missionaries Elin Henderson (a registered nurse) and her husband Phil serve as church planters with Ethnos 360 in Mozambique, Africa.  Elin is mother to eighteen-year-old Callie and fifteen-year-old Elias.

Meaningful Pointing

By Lexi Ellis

Point me down your highway, God; direct me along a well-lighted street…”

Psalm 27:11 (MSG)

Four years ago, we were in the process of training our German Shorthair Pointer puppy, Calvin, to be a hunting dog. Since the first session with the trainer, walks (and even going outside) have not been the same. Calvin picks up on all kinds of animal scents - - birds, squirrels, chipmunks, rodents, even other dogs’ excrement - - and will immediate take the pointing stance. Pointing is when a hunting dog stops, its head goes low and sticks out, tail goes up and one front paw curls to communicate, or point, to where the bird is.

Interestingly, the “pointing at the little, meaningless things” is very much a phase. As Calvin continues his training, he’ll learn to distinguish the difference between a hunting bird and a squirrel. While hunting, he’ll ignore the chipmunks, dog poop and mice because he understands they’re temporal and worthless. Eventually he’ll learn the distinction between the little scents and the “meaningful” scents  - - the birds Andrew hunts - - that bring him an even greater delight.

It got me thinking: Have I learned the distinction between pointing at the meaningless and the meaningful? How often do I point to the temporal, allowing it to consume my thoughts and steal my joy? If I’m honest, I think I find myself often pointing or focused on my pride, my own ability or my reputation.  Other times I point at selfishness by choosing a bad attitude and unkindness. Often, these meaningless things I devote my time and energy, thoughts and actions to result in missing out on the privilege of pointing on the meaningful - - the opportunity to be a part of God’s Plan, to love others and share His redeeming grace.

The question becomes: What am I pointing at - - the meaningless or the meaningful? While we are free from a life of guilt and shame, I wonder what time and talent is wasted pointing to the meaningless that could be spent doing amazing, meaningful things for the Gospel. Calvin is still learning to distinguish between the meaningless and meaningful. I’m thankful we have God’s Word and the opportunity to be in relationship with the Creator of the Universe so we can continually learn to point to meaningful as well.

GOING DEEPER:

1.    Think about the meaningless and meaningful things you point to.

2.    What godly opportunities are you missing out on because you’re pointing to the meaningless? What do you need to do to address that? Not sure? Ask our God in prayer and spend time allowing Him to speak to you through His Word.

FURTHER READING:

Psalm 5:8; Philippians 4:8; Isaiah 26:3        

Lexi and her husband, Andrew, recently became new parents and have an adorable dog. Lexi teaches sixth grade Reading and Writing and serves with Children’s Ministries.

Stillness and Quiet

By Tracy Smith

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”

Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

I am reading the book, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, and in the chapter titled "Living Room Intimacy," Joanna Weaver says,

                  

"I constantly fight the tendency to fill the God-shaped hole he created in me with fluffy stuff…I don't like quietness so I fill up the silence with sitcoms and talk shows, Christian music and CNN - - but it was in the quiet of the night that Samuel heard God's voice" [1]

That's me. I am the type of person who does not like quiet or stillness. I cannot just sit at the doctor's office and wait for the doctor without something to do, so I bring a book to read. I cannot do chores in a quiet house, so I put on the TV or radio as background noise. I am so bad that if I am watching a TV show, I will read a book at the commercials to keep the brain busy! I'm most comfortable when I keep my brain active and engaged.

The Bible gives us examples of people who heard God's voice when they were still, when they were quiet. Samuel heard God's voice in the middle of the night when all was quiet (1 Samuel 3:1-14). Elijah hears the voice of one of God’s messenger angels when he is discouraged enough to give up, so he lies down to sleep (1 Kings 19:4-8).

Why am I unable to just relax the brain and enjoy? I really don't know, but I would guess that is just the way I am wired. Does that mean that I should not try to learn to be still? No. In the above verse, God tells us to be still and to know who He is. What am I missing by not being still and/or quiet?  What would happen if I stopped, kept still and listened to God? I hope to find out soon!

GOING DEEPER: 

1. Will you commit to picking a time every day that you focus on being still and quiet?

2. What do you use to fill the quiet? What can you do to change that?

FURTHER READING:

Psalm 37:7, 62:5; Isaiah 32:17

Along with being a wife and mother to two teenage sons, Tracy is a ministry assistant at Oakwood and works with a great group of Junior High girls.

[1] Joanna Weaver, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World (Colorado Springs: Waterbrook Press, 2007).

Trust Without Borders

By Karen D’Amore

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding…”

Proverbs 3:5a (NIV)

The song was playing on the radio on my drive to church, and by the end of Sunday morning worship, we were singing the same song. Scribbling the lyrics on a church bulletin…I found the penetrating words replayed in my mind for days:

                        “Spirit lead me…where my trust is without borders

                        Let me walk upon the waters

                        Wherever You would call me

                        Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander

                        And my faith would be made stronger

                        In the presence of my Savior” [1, emphasis added]

“Trust”…such a small, but powerful word. Dictionary.com defines trust as “reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc. of a person or thing; confidence; a person on whom or thing on which one relies.”

Trust…in and of itself…is difficult enough, but “trust without borders” is a concept I sometimes struggle to embrace. As a believer for many years, my trust in the Lord has been an ongoing growth process. Using obstacles and adversity to drive my faith-roots deeper into Him, God’s faithfulness in every (even confusing) aspect of my life has reinforced my ability to trust Him.  Hindsight reveals that He has never forsaken me!

But, in spite of God’s unwavering faithfulness, new obstacles tend to stir up doubt, drawing me to place borders on my trust. Currently, as I am immersed in confusing circumstances and injustices that stretch me beyond my comfort zone, I find myself questioning God. When His methods of resolution and timeliness differ from mine…my trust sometimes wanes.

Our key verse exhorts us to “lean not on our own understanding.” As I meditate on this Scripture, I’m learning that trust means walking in obedience…in blind faith! Trust rests in God’s perfect plan, regardless of how confusing or uncomfortable that process may be. Trust accepts God’s ways even when it conflicts with ours. Trust abandons pre-conceived time limits and waits patiently on God’s timing. Trust believes in God’s faithfulness even when circumstances appear hopeless.

My faith journey has resembled a strenuous hike through deep valleys, around blind curves and over rugged terrain. Each, though, has been a necessary element to build my faith muscles and deepen my ability to trust in God. Seeing God’s faithfulness in the obstacles along that rugged path serves to develop and strengthen the parameters of my trust. Recognizing that God’s ways were/are always better than mine helps diminish my doubts.

As my faith journey continues, I yearn for “trust without borders.”  I pray my feet will obediently wander…where my faith will be made stronger…in the presence of my Savior!

GOING DEEPER:

1. What’s hindering your ability to fully trust God?

FURTHER READING:

Jeremiah 17:7; Hebrews 11:6; Matthew 14:27, 29

Married to Dan, Karen, a retired police officer, currently works as a Manicurist at Craig Berns Salon and a Foot Care Specialist at Shorehaven Senior Facility. 

[1] http://www.songlyrics.com/hillsong/oceans-where-feet-may-fail-lyrics