Trust. As far as words go, it’s only 5 letters and 1 syllable. However, you can’t really go anywhere or do anything without it. We need to trust from the moment we wake up every morning. You roll out of bed and you trust that gravity will work. If you didn’t, you’d have to have a backup plan for getting yourself down from the ceiling. Do you have a backup plan? I didn’t think so. I don’t either. If you’re a believer, then you let trust fuel your faith, open doors and build a bridge from where you are to where God wants you to be.
The challenge is that fear and doubt tend to show up first and try to convince us that the door isn’t worth walking through and the bridge isn’t safe. Trust says just the opposite: ”Go ahead and take the next step, __________(fill in your name.) God’s promises are true and they absolutely apply to you: ”Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-7) That verse sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Easy to say, hard to believe sometimes, especially if you’re not sure where the path is leading.
The Hope 2020 Vision Walk by Faith Campaign requires a lot of trust: first, in God, the giver of all good things, next, in our congregational leadership, and equally important, trust in each other because we don’t know the exact details of the path yet. The good news is that we’re not the first ones that have had to let trust fuel their faith. The Bible is filled with examples we can learn from: Abraham and Sarah, (don’t forget Sarah, I would have told Abraham he was crazy) and let’s see, David, Noah, and Mary. There are so many more but can we talk about Mary for a second? What’s her response when the angel of the Lord comes knocking at her door and tells her that as a virgin, she’s going to give birth to THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD?: “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” (Luke 1:38) What???? (I would love to say I always answer like that. #workinprogress) What an awesome example of faith and trust, which are far more powerful than fear and doubt.
Now, don’t just take my word for it about the power of trust; take it from someone who’s been where you are, wondering what God was asking her to do in regards to the Walk By Faith Campaign (as shared from an email to PK)
I just wanted to share something with you that was amazing and exciting for me and my boys.
It really started with the Hope 20/20 campaign. I have been praying about what the Lord would have me do. He put a number on my heart, and I have to admit, I was scared. I didn’t have a job. I was recently separated, so all of the finances had been split and I was only receiving the child support and alimony money, which didn’t cover my bills. I was using some savings to make ends meet, but it was quickly running out. The number God was telling me was scary. But it was there, and clear. So I had decided that I would have faith.
Well, yesterday, I received a phone call asking about an application I had placed in Spencerport. They wanted me to come in for an interview. I met with the principal today, and was offered a full-time job this afternoon! So in 24 hours, I went from no job and wondering how I was going to pay the bills, not to mention commit to Hope, to being employed full-time with enough to care for my family and joyfully obey God’s prompting.
Miracles do happen, and God does provide when we cannot see the way!
Praise God! Why tell you this story now? Because even though we’ve had a Commitment Sunday Celebration, the commitment is just beginning and the road on which we will Walk by Faith is being paved. (By the way, there’s always time to increase your giving if God is leading you in that direction!) As we journey together, we plan on sharing, even more, stories of God’s faithfulness as His people place their trust in Him. If you have an example you’d like to share, we’d love to hear it. In the meantime, tell fear and doubt to pack their bags; you’re not headed their way. Trust is the road less traveled, and you’re ready!
