Read: Psalm 20 and Psalm 37:23a
Very early, just as day was breaking, my husband and I headed out for our workout. We walked together to warm up our muscles. Then he would jog the rest of the way while I continued power walking. It wasn't long before he was out of sight. We reunited at our meeting point, where we began the walk back home together. This became a time for us to talk, sharing our thoughts on topics ranging from politics to missionary work in India.
Months into this routine, we went out as usual for our workout. My husband had already begun jogging and was quite a distance from me. I could barely make out his form ahead. Just then, I saw a car approaching on the opposite side of the median. It was traveling very slowly as it passed by me. I thought nothing of it until it turned around at the intersection and started heading back. My heart began to race. I looked ahead for my husband with the thought that I would yell for him to come back to help me. He was nowhere in sight! There I was, alone and helpless. I prayed a quick "Lord help me" prayer and prepared myself for what may happen next. To my surprise, the car crept slowly by. The driver never looked my way, for he was reading a map that he was holding! Apparently he was lost and had been looking for the street a few feet ahead of where I was. What a relief I felt in my heart.
I chuckled to myself as I thought of how I had turned an innocent situation into a life-threatening one. Then my thoughts turned to the realization that had I really been in danger, my trust in human protection would have been totally useless. There was no way my husband could have heard my cries, and even if he did, he would not have been able to get to me in time. Where are you placing your trust today? Is it in the alarm system coursing throughout your home? How about the guard dog snarling in the corner at the least sound? Maybe you live in a gated community or have a neighborhood watch program. Is your trust there? What of the stun gun, the can of mace or the pistol in your car's glove compartment?
Our scripture points us to where we are to place our trust. "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but WE will trust in the name of the Lord our God (NIV)." Every moment of every day we must trust our Creator to hedge us in from the numerous dangers that could come our way. However, we must ALSO trust Him through the perils that He allows to reach us. "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord (KJV)." We must remember that God, who is Love and who is Good, designs our destiny. Whatever He places on the path of our journey - pleasant or unpleasant - has an ultimate purpose that is good and perfect. We may not understand why we have to go through things that are tragic and painful. But if we trust God, our journey through these situations can become a living testimony to a world that needs to know the hope, peace, joy, and love of our Eternal God.
Let's place our trust in the only One who can protect us completely, and let's also trust Him during the times it seems that He has betrayed that trust.
Prayer
: Father, sometimes the things you require of me are both difficult and painful. Help me to put my trust totally in Your ability to design my life's course. Empower me to walk out the journey in a manner that will bring glory to Your Name. Teach me to trust You even when it seems that You cannot be trusted. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
