Learning to Trust

Recently I've been in a place where I've had to just trust God. As I've been struggling to give up control and allow God to be in charge, I've been thinking about this whole thing of trusting.

In my case, trusting God means trusting that He is in control, and that whatever happens is ultimately best for my life (even if things turn out differently then I'd like).

The craziest thing about trusting God right now, is that ultimately I have no other choice. I'm essentially stuck in a waiting game, I've done all that I can do. There is no other option, & yet for some reason it's still so hard to trust that God is in control.

Perhaps our Western culture has ruined us from a life of allowing God to have total control. We've been taught and trained to look out for ourselves. We all work to be self-sufficient, needing no help or hand outs. The problem I find is that no matter how hard I try to control everything all by myself, ultimately I'm not capable.

And so, here I am, once again quoting Philippians 4:6-7 (MSG), because I know that my being anxious and worrying does nothing at this point, I just need to trust.
"Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life."

Redemption

It seems over the past few weeks (possibly even months) that "redemption" has been a common theme. Whether it's in conversations, e-mails, DVD's, sermons, or children's ministry curriculum, this topic keeps coming up.

I can't help but think that perhaps it's because God's heart is for redemption, and He really just wants us (or at least me!) to "get it."

If you look throughout the Bible, it's plain to see how God's heart is to redeem His people back to Him. Ever since sin entered the world, a plan has been set in motion for redemption to take place. In fact, the whole gospel message is redemptive.

The question then comes, why this recurring theme?
Perhaps because I sometimes lose sight of the big picture, and what the Big God Story that I'm apart of is all about. Perhaps it's because this plan isn't only played out in my life, but in the lives of those I encounter. Perhaps because redemption is much bigger then praying & believing in Christ.

God's heart is for redemption. Between people & Himself. Between people & people.