A Strong and Sure Trust In The Lord

My beautiful aunt sat before me this past weekend with little ability to move on her own. Her body, now damaged by Multiple Sclerosis, fights to function at all. The tremors in her hands and neck make eating and drinking quite the challenge, while swallowing takes concentration and reminders. Transferring into the bathroom is nearly impossible. This disease has taken away her mobility, her independence, and any bit of privacy she used to have. Yet her voice remains ever strong – sure of God’s greatness in her life.

An example of what it means to truly trust in the Lord was right there for me to see.

As she unexpectedly sent out bits and pieces of wisdom for me to take in, I realized I have so much to learn still.

There I was, watching her daily struggles, but instead of turning to my faith, my mind wandered to a place of uncertainty and questions.

How is this her life? Once a talented painter, she is now unable to hold a fork between her fingers.

My heart sank deeper and deeper – I don’t understand. This is terrible; an unimaginable way to live.

Then she spoke of the Lord, and reminded me what it means to trust Him.

“I ask God for help. I know He is helping me. I don’t know His plan, but He is helping me,” she explained.

Her confidence in Him is unwavering.

With everything that has happened to her, she hasn’t let go of the Lord or His truth. She could have opened herself up to anger and disbelief, but never once have I seen either of those emotions within her.

Scripture reminds us to never doubt the Lord or His Promises.

While my aunt’s body is extremely frail, she continues on, lives to the best of her ability, and trusts the Lord to help her do it all over again the next day. Her hope is the Lord’s strength.

She spoke of good days and bad days, but wisely stated the toughest of times are only a moment and we can’t get caught up in those moments.

Faith Brings Peace, Strength, And Freedom

As I process everything she shared, I am brought back to the importance of faith itself.

Faith is believing when we can’t see possibility. Faith is knowing this is only temporary; there is something more. Faith is trusting God’s word. Faith is depending on the Lord’s strength and not your own.

To have an unwavering confidence in the Lord is where we will find true peace and freedom, no matter what illness, distress, or pain we have to endure.

I believe that if we are willing to give the stress of our hardships to the Lord, we will become healthier, both physically and emotionally.

Jesus is here to help us. He wants to guide us through each and every trial.

When we put our faith in Him, there is a new sense of freedom.

I personally know this freedom. The Lord lifted me out of a hole I dug so deep that fear controlled my every decision. I had to literally hand everything over to Him and depend on Him. Once I did this, I saw my situation in a new light.

Depend On Your Faith First

But when difficulties arise, so do doubts and it’s easy to go back to the unsteadiness of our past. Instead, we have to depend on our faith, continue to include God in everything, and trust Him.

The word describes those who doubt similar to the “surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind,” James 1:6 HCSB.

I felt a lot like that as I watched my aunt struggle, questioning my own future as a disabled woman, letting my mind go to a place of fear. I needed to turn to the Lord and what He says about my future.

“A man [or woman] who endures trials is blessed, because when he passes the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.”

James 1:12 HCSB

God did not intend for any of us to suffer with disease, but He will use it as a positive, building us up to be stronger than we ever thought we could be. If we remain with God, not letting adversity take us to a negative mindset, we will stay on His pathway, able to see the bigger picture.

The disciples asked Jesus if sin causes such illness when they saw a man who was born blind. Jesus explained that “This came about so that God’s works might be displayed in him,” John 9:3 HCSB.

Jesus is particular, using the phrase “might be displayed,” which tells me we have a choice. I can be discouraged by all that I saw my aunt going through. I can wonder if my own abilities are going to deteriorate as I age, and feel alone and scared. Or I can live now as an example of God’s work, never giving up.

The Lord goes on to say “We must do the works of Him who sent Me while it is day,” John 9:4 HCSB.

Both you and me have been given a special task and that is to share everything God is doing in our lives now, so others can experience that same hope and love.

Trust The Lord To Help You Overcome

My aunt’s visit shed light on what to do today, and everyday.

Turn to Jesus when weary. Talk to Him. Pray to Him. Sing to Him. Seek Him in everything.

Leave the questions behind, because there may not be an answer now. And that’s OK. The best thing we can do is keep pushing forward. In time, we will overcome the challenges before us because the Lord was preparing us all along for something important.

“Consider it great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.”

James 1:2 HCSB

This endurance will allow us to stand strong for Jesus and all He has done to help us. We will be able to pass along what we have learned and share the Lord’s wisdom with others.

Prayer Of Trust In the Lord

If you’ve been battling illness or any type of challenge and you know it’s time to let Jesus in to help, here is a prayer you can use to declare your trust in the Lord.