Trust and Obey

“Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.’ I woke up today hearing these lyrics to that old hymn. As I have continued to meditate on them today, I have been asking myself some questions: What areas of my life am I needing to just trust God and obey Him? What does that look like? Why is it easier to trust Him and obey Him sometimes and not so easy other times? 

When I first started writing this blog five years ago, it seemed so easy to trust Him to show me what to write (once I got started!). The words just seemed to flow quickly and easily. As time has gone on, it hasn’t always been that way. And lately I have gone for months between writing. I realized today that I have to once again choose to trust Him that doing this blog is something He wants me to do, and He is there behind me. It is good to take time and check in with Him about what you are doing, but the obey part comes in to then do what He says to do. In this example, I have to obey by setting aside time to do the writing as well as pray and ask Him to help me convey what He wants you to hear. 

One of my favorite Bible verses is in Proverbs 3. The short version is to trust in the Lord with all your heart. Good advice! The Amplified Classic version of verses 5-7 is “Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; reverently fear and worship the Lord and turn [entirely] away from evil.”

Trusting God is seeing what His will is and then following Him by doing what He says. Simple but not always easy. I think a key is knowing that God is a good God and He will always be there to pick you up when you stumble. He doesn’t shame you for stumbling. Instead, He lifts you up and tells you how much He loves you! I’m so thankful for this! 

Let’s talk for a minute about heart vs. mind. I don’t want to just trust God in my mind, in my own strength. I want to be fully invested with all my heart as well as all my mind and all my strength. It isn’t always that way. Sometimes I feel like I have to dip my toe in the pool before jumping in. But at every turn He has shown me I can trust Him. Sometimes I just have to go back and remember all He has done for me, through me, and in me. When someone has a positive track record with you, it is easier to trust what they say to you. 

So how about you? What areas do you find it easier than others to trust and obey Him? What areas are harder? I’m going to continue meditating on this and exploring it by writing about it. Stay tuned. And hopefully it won’t be several months before I write again!