“Where is your faith?”

I don’t think Jesus was angry as He spoke these words to His disciples (see Luke 8:25). They were overwhelmed by the storm swamping the boat, afraid for their lives. But He was pushing them a little. In that one sentence, I think He is urging them to remember how He had shown His faithfulness and power in the past. There is no need for fear when you’re with Jesus. Just trust.

Trust. That word has been popping up in my life a lot in the last few months, as Jesus continues to push me, too. I know that when fear creeps into my heart, it’s a sign I’m not trusting. But I’m finding that a lack of trust can show up in many more subtle ways, too.

When I try to control people or situations, it is usually a trust issue. I’m not a manipulative person—or at least I don’t like to think so. But one of the things God has been showing me is how frequently I try so hard (subconsciously) to control things. How can I convince this student to come on this retreat? What can I say to make my friend change his mind? If I do X, Y, and Z just right, can I make A and B happen? Of course I want to be wise, strategic, creative. But too often this is a sign to me that I’m trying to take matters into my own hand rather than trusting God to work through me and to work in others.

When I disobey, it is usually a trust issue. Let’s face it: if I really trusted God, I would trust that what He asks me to do is what’s best for me. When I choose to ignore His instruction and do my own thing, it displays a lack of faith.

When I worry, it is usually a trust issue. God cares about every detail of my life, and He loves me immensely. He cares about my lost friends more than I do, and He is working in their hearts—sometimes through me and sometimes in spite of me. He has a plan that He is bringing to pass, and His plan is better than mine. If I lived like I believed these things—if I trusted Him fully—my life should be full of peace. Worry shows me that I am starting to trust in myself (and realizing how little control I really have) rather than trusting God.

When I am worn out, it is usually a trust issue. God does not call me to do more than I’m capable of doing in the time He’s given me. In fact, one of His 10 Commandments (and the one I’m most likely to break) is that we take a day of rest each week and do no work. He values our rest. He values our being with Him. He values our joy. And while He wants us to labor faithfully for Him and He promises to use us, He does not need us. If I’m working myself so hard that I’m living tired and drained, it’s probably because I’m taking on things I think I need to do rather than being willing to leave things undone that are not my priorities, and trusting that God will use other people to accomplish them.

Trust allows us to live courageously, boldly, joyfully, powerfully obedient lives as we hang on to Him and let go of our control.

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7 days of letting faith guide your life