TRUST TRAINING
Kendra Intihar
Today’s Scripture: “Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.” Psalm 9:10, NIV
Theme: Life is unpredictable, but we can trust in God’s goodness and in His plans.
LEARNING TO TRUST
Most of us who saw the original “Top Gun” movie already know that Maverick is the best of the best. In the sequel, though, the new Top Gun students have to figure that out for themselves. Through a series of mock aerial “dog fights,” Maverick earns the respect and loyalty of the students by repeatedly proving that he is a superior pilot and that they can trust he knows what he’s doing.
This trust in Maverick is put to the ultimate test when the students begin training for a dangerous strike mission. They must use plans for a bunker and knowledge of the surrounding defenses which they won’t be able to see and experience until they’re actually in the middle of the expedition, in a life and death situation.
ALWAYS FAITHFUL
If you have been a Jesus follower for a while, then much like the audience in the “Top Gun: Maverick” sequel, you have an insider perspective on God’s faithfulness. You’ve seen Him work in your life and the lives of those you love, so you know you can trust Him. You’ve been in what might be considered “trust training” so that your faith will be strong when uncertain times come. The trust muscle requires exercise!
Still, when you’re in the middle of a hardship, it’s easy to wonder if God can be trusted THIS time. Yes, He’s come through every time before, but you wonder if this time is different. This time is really big. This time, the outcome will make a huge difference in your life.
In the Bible, we see story after story of people who trusted God in their big, life-changing moments. The long and broken story of Joseph and his ongoing trust in God is one of my favorite examples of relying on Him, even when things look bleak or when the outcome you were hoping for didn’t come to pass. Joseph trusted God when he was left for dead by his brothers. He trusted God when he was jailed without cause. He trusted God when the crops failed. His story is a story of seeing God work in even his most difficult circumstances. There are ups and downs on Joseph’s journey, but he sees the faithfulness of God through the ups and downs of every season. You can read about Joseph’s walk with the Lord in Genesis, chapters 37-50.
REDEMPTION IS CERTAIN
Our lives are not altogether unlike Joseph’s. We will certainly see hardship in our lifetime. We will struggle, we will be accused of things we didn’t do, and we will endure the jealousy or malice of people who are close to us. But we will also see God make Himself known through the miraculous restoration we experience on the other side of our struggles. We serve a God who restores and redeems. If your circumstances have not been redeemed, then you can be confident that God isn’t finished yet.
Make it personal: The Lord promises us that we will have trouble. That’s not terribly reassuring until we realize that He has also promised that He will never leave us. We can practice trusting God by turning our expectations over to Him, praying when we face uncertainty and hardship, and clinging to His promises. How has God shown up for you in your life? Recalling His goodness and thanking Him for His unfailing love and presence in your life will remind you that no matter what you are facing, you can trust Him.
Pray: Lord, thank You for being my constant Helper. Bring to my mind, right in this moment, the many ways You have restored and redeemed me and my circumstances. Help me to hold fast to Your promises and Your steady presence, especially in times of hardship. Let my life be a testament to Your trustworthiness and faithfulness, and help me to walk in Your plans, even when I can’t see or don’t understand the outcome. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Read: Proverbs 3:5-6; Matthew 6:25-27; John 16:33
Weekly Memory Verse:
“Commit everything you do to the Lord.
Trust him, and he will help you.” Psalm 37:5, NLT