Jesus Always Delivers

Trusting the Lord is difficult. Sinning is easy. That's why when presented with the opportunity to trust God we are tempted to sin. We feel an urge to step away from his righteous pathway and take control. You see, trusting the Lord requires self-denial. Jesus invites us to take up our cross and follow him (Matthew 16:24). That's really hard.

Let's think about it ...

Instead of trusting the Lord with our children's education this year we are tempted to hunker down, self-protect, and ignore our neighbors. Instead of trusting the Lord for our financial provision we may grow fearful and anxious, believing God has forgotten about us. Instead of trusting the Lord with our reputations and relationships we have a tendency to spin stories, manipulate, and fight for the upper hand. We fight for control and refuse to trust.

A pandemic has a way of squeezing out what may otherwise be hidden. For me, as the pressure of this season persists I've noticed distrust exposed in my heart. It shows itself as sinful anger, but the true ailment is distrust. I don't trust that God will take care of me. I don't trust that God will take care of you, our church family. I don't trust, some days, that this will ever end. And so I get angry.

Anger makes me a promise. It tells me if I give in to its invitation to raise my voice at my children, harbor bitterness toward a brother or sister, or silently judge people from a distant ... then I will regain control. Anger promise control. But anger never delivers on its word. Sin never delivers on its promises. In fact, unrighteous anger always leads to a further loss of control.

How about you? In what ways is this season revealing distrust? How is your lack of trust showing itself? In your family? In your friendships? In your work?

Trust is difficult. Sin is easy. But Jesus is worthy of your self-denial and surrender and trust because Jesus alone always delivers on his word.