Trust God

READ: PSALM 36:5; 2 CORINTHIANS 1:20; 2 THESSALONIANS 3:3

With our heads bowed and eyes closed, I sat in our weekly prayer circle at church. Every Wednesday before band practice, our ministry group would come together and pray. We took turns thanking God, praising Him, and laying our requests before Him. As I listened to my friend talk to the Lord beside me, I knew I was next to pray.

“Lord,” I prayed, “thank You for Your grace and love. Thank You for our many blessings.” I paused because I wasn’t sure how to put the thoughts in my heart into audible words: “And...um...Lord, help me to trust You. Sometimes it’s just hard to trust You.” I closed my short prayer with an “amen” and then continued praying silently with the friends beside me.

As I sat there listening to the other prayer requests, I realized what I had just said to the Lord: “Sometimes it’s hard to trust You.” Immediately, my heart flinched, and I felt convicted.

Had God given me a reason not to trust Him? Was His track record tainted in some way? Was He not faithful to me? Had He retracted His love for me? As I wrestled with these questions in my mind, the solitary answer was a resounding, “No!”

Here’s what I do know. God is the One who tells me that He will never leave me (Hebrews 13:5). He is the One who loves me unconditionally (Romans 8:38-39). He is the One who loves me even in the midst of my sin (Romans 5:8). He is the One who sent His only Son to die in my place (John 3:16). He calls me His own... His child (John 1:12). He can be trusted more than we can possibly imagine (Ephesians 3:14-21). • Emily Rudolph

• In our broken world, people can be untrustworthy. You may have been hurt by a person’s unfaithfulness. Read Numbers 23:19. Why God can be trusted, even when others are not trustworthy?

• Read the Bible passages mentioned in the last paragraph of today’s devotion. For each passage, tell yourself (out loud) who God is. (For example, “He loves me forever. He will never leave me.”) Write down any of the truths that stick out to you.

Those who know your name trust in you because you have not abandoned those who seek you, LORD. Psalm 9:10 (CSB)