By: Donna Bucher
Turning the question over in my mind, I realized the calm beating of my heart and relaxed posture spoke peace not dread. Could trusting God from a place of rest give me the courage for moving forward in faith rather than fear?
Trusting God from a place of rest, allows us the benefit of
intimacy and safety before
commitment. When we practice resting in God especially when we don't have all the
answers, trusting Him flows naturally from a place of intimacy. In a place of
resting in Him, we relinquish our fear and anxiety; knowing Him as our
salvation, we trust without fear.
“Behold,
God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord
Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.”
In the safe, tranquil place of God's Presence, our hearts and
souls timidly step into trust. Rushing or brow beating ourselves into a place
of trust from a posture of turmoil or the fear of uncertainty only sharpens our
doubts and increases our anxiety.
Pursuing
the serenity of rest in intimacy with Christ fosters trust, which in turn
maintains our rest.
When God specifically asked me, "would I obey and continue walking the rocky path before me if
He chose not to change the situation", my heart slipped easily
into trust. Because He graciously taught me how to find the true spiritual rest
my soul needed, from the safety of intimacy with Him, a question normally
sending me into trepidation, now posed no threat.
STEPPING
INTO TRUST
Upon
reflection, I noticed the practical steps God led me through while postured in
rest towards trusting Him.
Praise. Almost surprisingly,
while fellowshipping with Christ from a place of rest, I noticed my first
responses were that of praise. All my striving and working at
finding rest stood powerless in stopping the turmoil within my soul. Once
resting in Him, praise poured from my lips. Praise
and gratitude ignite joy, which in turn weaves me into a tighter union with
Him. (Hebrews 13:15)
Vulnerability. Resting in the Lord
creates a safe place; a place where I feel heard and seen. Rather than fleeing
in fear and anxiety, I am open to the vulnerability of sharing
where my heart hurts and what fears assail me. No longer compelled to hide from
God, I lean into His protection and comfort. (1 John 4:18)
Remember. Trusting God from a
place of rest encourages me to remember what He has already done.
I highly recommend journaling; having a record of struggles, prayers, answers,
and gratitude powerfully reminds us of God's faithfulness in the
past, urging us towards trust for the future. (Habakkuk 3:1-2)
Accept. Perhaps the crucial
component for me, was accepting God's will. Surrendering my will
to His, involves trusting in His good purpose for me or my loved ones. Such
acquiescence cannot flow from a place of anxious doubt, but only from a place
of serene calm. (Romans 12:2)
God, in His sovereign kindness
shepherded me beside the still waters of His intimate knowledge of my deepest
needs. Gently drawing me into the safety of His loving heart, where my troubled
spirit not only found rest, but solace.
From a place of tender intimacy,
He graciously nurtured me towards a deeper trust in Him. Believing my life
still has significance and splendor despite the presence of suffering and
darkness results from trusting God from a place of rest.
Where are you struggling to trust God today?
How can you lean into a place a rest and intimacy with Jesus
to nurture more trust in Him?
Find more encouragement and FREE Resources at Serenity in Suffering!
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Donna, I have to tell you this is a very soothing message. This really lifted me up today.
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