The Tribune

By CARLOS SPENCER

There are many passages that invoke a feeling of safety and divine providence, but Psalm 46:1 (KJV) is a personal favourite of mine: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

This is powerful scripture. We all worry and fret about issues at some point in our lives. There are moments when we pray to God for legitimate needs and desires, yet it does not turn out as we would like and we feel frustrated. At other times we receive what we pray for but find that we are not happy after all, just disillusioned and empty.

What is lacking is that we have not discovered life’s greatest spiritual secret. 1 Chronicles 16:11 (KJV) states: “Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face continually.”

In other words, we must learn to trust in God completely, in an active way. We should view every situation, every stressful moment, every sorrow, every prayer with the definitive and unshakable belief that God is completely trustworthy.

Faith in God is absolutely critical. Faith is more than positive thinking and positive thinking will not produce faith. Since faith is trusting in God, the only way to develop faith is to learn (to know) God. Since God is trustworthy, as we begin to know Him we automatically learn to trust Him. Faith is trusting God when circumstances do not turn out as we expect.

Hebrews 11:6 (KJV) makes this point so well: “But without faith it is impossible to please him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

We move from the natural to the supernatural when we are trusting in our Creator and seeking resolution to our challenges.

We cannot work on our righteousness nor our faith. Both are gifts. Both are fruits of God. Both are a consequence of knowing Jesus and knowing Jesus comes as a result of spending time in communion, fellowship and relationship with Him. If we come to Jesus He will give us the authentic faith that we need.

In relation to the disciples’ admission that Jesus “camest forth from God”, Jesus asked in John 16:31 (KJV): “Do ye now believe?” Jeremiah sums up our ability to trust in God in Jeremiah 29:13 (KJV): “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”

In the book of Genesis God’s word provides us with the definition of the word “know”. Genesis 4:1 (KJV) records: “And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain….”

We must have such an intimate relationship with God so that we can truly talk with Him as we would talk to a spouse or closest friend. Talking with God must become easy and sincere, second nature in fact. We must be comfortable with God, and express our love for Him. We must not be afraid of Him, but allow Him to take control of our lives. We must trust Him to never forsake us and to keep His promises to us (help us in time of trouble, provide food, answer our payers in our best interest, save us, provide for all our needs).

The only way to develop this level of trust in God and get to know Him really well is to engage in daily Bible study, privately, and always in the same place. Morning sessions are always preferable when we are most alert, and always on our knees – in total submission. (unless we are too ill or weak to do so. We never really find God until we get on our knees before Him.

Exodus 15:2 (KJV) says: “The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.” Amen. Thanks be to God for the sharing of His Word.