Will you Trust God with your Future?

Fear masquerades itself in so many costumes. Its chief aim is to bring rigid paralysis or disabling panic. Fear came knocking on my door this week. It caught me off guard. I didn’t recognize it. A challenging experience where I confronted fear of man and failed to follow my own convictions, plus a scary twist in a TV show plot I watched were the ingredients used to make the climate more welcoming to this enemy. A sleepless night was the result.

The next morning I felt weary and desperate to hear from God. I curled up in my favorite chair and opened my Bible. Closing my eyes, I welcomed His Presence and His divine searchlight into my soul. I asked Him to examine my heart. What really was going on? (Isn’t it great that we can ask to God to show us?)  Right away I thought about me going back to work. I heard God whisper, “You don’t trust Me with your future.” Hearing these words was like flipping on the light switch in a dark room. Fear about my future was an unwelcome guest the night before, sneaking through the door and demanding a sleepover party. Now God was crashing the party.

Like every other year, school was starting soon and I would be returning to work there. But in the midst of a pandemic, school would be different this year. I worried about Coronavirus, social distancing, and wearing a mask all day. Was working really worth the risk? What if I brought the virus home to my husband? My worries had blossomed into an underlying fear that robbed me of rest. No, I did not trust God fully. But God had been faithful all these years, even walking with me through two cancer diagnoses! Where was my faith now? Why wasn’t I trusting God?

In the New Testament, the disciple Peter gets out of a boat and walks on water to Jesus when He commands him to come to Him. However the story continues, “But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out His hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped Him, saying “Truly, you are the Son of God.”’’ (Matthew 14:30-33)

Faith was Peter simply taking the next step! But just like me, Peter took his eyes off Jesus and turned them to the waves and the circumstances all around him and started to sink!  Do you want to know what I think is amazing? When Peter cries out for help, he gets rescued and corrected, but Jesus also helps him do a huge u-turn back to the boat!  When THEY got into the boat the wind ceased. Jesus didn’t condemn Peter for his fear! He even led him to the place Peter would feel safe, joined him there, and manifested His power.

Graciously, Jesus helped my heart do a u-turn too. During my quiet time, I cried out for help.  He moved towards me, calmed my fears, and reached out His hand to help. He also asked me some tough questions, but I never felt condemned. Instead, I felt His love. His Presence comforted me and drew me closer. I felt encouraged to trust Him fully with my future. Close to Jesus, fear ceases. He bids us to “Come.” Faith starts with taking one step forward, but it’s always a step closer to God. Will you trust Him with your future?

(This is part one of a two part story. Visit the blog next Friday to find out what God did next!)