:// When the heat comes…

Trust is such a crazy concept if you really start thinking about it.

It asks you to believe in something you can’t see. It asks you to hope for the uncertain. It asks you to be confident in an outcome that has no guarantee…maybe even no evidence of it’s coming manifestation.

Trust requires you to make your move FIRST. To invest your portion FIRST. To take your step out FIRST. To lay it all on the line FIRST.

It is not within our human nature to be comfortable with this process. We want the answers, the guarantees and we want the proof that our action and investment is not going to waste. This is why trust is so difficult.

We don’t purchase a home until we see some warranties and guarantees on the building. We don’t invest a large portion of money into a mutual fund or other investment vehicle until we have evidence of the past record of proven positive performance. And likewise, it is very difficult for us to move out into obedience and sacrifice following the Lord’s leading into new territory - without a long list of evidence and proof that we’re going to make it.

But, I believe God works on a different system, and that system is based on TRUST.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 says; “Blessed is the man who TRUSTS in the Lord, whose CONFIDENCE is in him. He will be like a tree PLANTED BY WATER that SENDS OUT ROOTS by the stream. It does not fear WHEN THE HEAT COMES; its leaves are always green. It has NO WORRIES in a year of drought and NEVER FAILS to bear fruit.”

What I have been learning is that it is hardest for us to trust in God when the heat comes. In other words, when we are facing adversity, when we are walking through a desert season, when we are wrestling with surrender, or dealing with heavy temptation.  When there is no evidence of a positive outcome.  When all we see on the outside is drought, heat and dying… will we still trust in God?

This is when we should exercise our trust, and tap our spiritual roots underground (areas where no one else can see) into the streams of living water.  Then, when others are dying back…and failing to produce any fruit because of the negative circumstances, we have a full bloom of life and fruitfulness that will cause others to wonder: “How in the world are you staying alive and well through it all???”.

At that point, you will have one easy answer to one difficult process.

I chose to TRUST in God… and I am blessed because of it.

JJ

~ by jeffjohnston on May 14, 2008.