Gobbledygook. It's a real word. Promise. Look it up. I'd love to spell it in Scrabble, sometime.
Lately, I've been able to find a lot of it in my head. A mess of junk just sitting there ruining my life, making living difficult. It has been hiding my true joy and literally giving me headaches.
It boils down to this: Although I have Faith, I don't always have Trust.
Let me explain. Without a doubt, I believe that God is sovereign--that He sent His Son to die for my sins so that I can be blameless before Him. I have faith that God is all that and more. I have faith that He is with me right now, and that He loves me. Yet, I have terrifying moments--or hours, or days, or weeks--when I feel that I can't trust Him with my future. I worry. I fret. I freak because I can't see the end of the tunnel. I have not the slightest clue how the heck these things I'm facing are going to turn out. And that terrifies me. I have great faith; my trust in Him lacks, sometimes. Maybe I'm stretching things a bit; I'm not sure.
To be fair, there have been more moments during which I have felt complete and utter trust in my Savior's plans for my future. In fact, I've had such peace that I was amazed. And I'm sure some of this recent struggle has been due to the fact that I'm physically and emotionally exhausted.
Tonight, at a worship service I attended, someone read the verse that speaks of God providing for the birds of the air. A good reminder. And my friend sitting next to me nudged me, knowing a bit of what I have been struggling with.
And, on the way home I had a little talk with Jesus. A little "adjustment," as the speaker shared. So, here's my new mantra (my old one was "What doesn't kill me makes me stronger."): "He covers my past and covers my present; He's got my future covered, too!" And there we have it.
Do you ever find yourself having faith without trust?
Comments (13)
If we were in a counseling session there are many things I could say about this however with out being able to ask details it's difficult. There isno in general solution, because we are all unique and looking at things from our own unique perspectives.
James 2:17 provides excellent guidance:
17Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.
So it is not trust that expresses our faith, but our works. What are you doing? Are you involved in a ministry of some sort? Do you help the poor? Do you teach? Are you a parent or a preacher?
Faith is expressed in what we do.
I am 76 and still struggling--since 1965. I still fear dying, and it cannot be far away for me. I almost died 4 or 5 times a few years ago. I really did not like the idea. I was especially sad about leaving my wife of 54 years. I guess some will say I love my wife more than Jesus. I do have my critics.
I also can be confident, then for some reason fear parks in my brain.
I wish you well.
blessings
FRANK
Yet, I have terrifying moments--or hours, or days, or weeks--when I feel that I can't trust Him with my future.
Then in those moments, you also don't have faith. If you did, you would also trust him. It's possible to have faith in one area, and not have faith in a different area. Or you could have faith in one area at a particular time and not have it at a different time.
I've never taken faith to mean belief; I have always considered it to be "the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (Heb 11:1).
The conviction of faith is, essentially, one element of faith is the conviction of matters that cannot be proven which must certainly follow specific given guided by the presence of faith. True faith, therefore, is not without action because action is the bi-product of faith (James 2:17).
Neither can faith exist in a safe environment because it cannot be tested there; although faith does not exclude fear altogether, it does altogether include your full trust in the object of your faith-- as a product of this "faith" your life, and all the actions therein, will be intrinsically linked together and fully affected by the requirements of your faith. Gravity exists, yes, but does it exist because you believe it exists? Would gravity exist without a object of mass in motion?
Some one might say that without trust you cannot have faith; just as you might say that if your faith does not produce its appropriate action, then you do not have faith. Therefore faith is not an element that can be defined in any single set of words and given a quick “stamp” of approval, but rather, faith is a reality that is either testified to, or discredited by, the entire working function of all its limitations and expectations together in totality. If earth existed by itself as one, unified mass, without another mass there would be no gravity; it would be a totally empty force.
Jesus is the best insurance.
@LoBornlite@xanga - That's good...'trust is not the expression of faith, but works.' ...obviously Biblical and perhaps seems true to you based upon your own life experience, but also could be confusing. Reading a bit further in James 2 (verse 20-22)
"You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. "
As I interpret James 'works' are not only serving the poor or preaching as one can easily interpret from your comment, but merely acting out of faith. It doesn't preclude those activities, but its seems to me its about the heart, and obedience...not 'what we do.' When the apostles asked for more faith as described in Luke 17 Jesus said 'merely do what is asked of you' (in the telling of the parable of the unprofitable servant).
So I guess I agree with the old hackneyed phrase...'Faith is spelled...R-I-S-K" And in the risk one allows God to build faith (After all He is the author and finisher of our faith (Heb 2:12)...not us). And naturally there is fear in risk...that's the nature of it.
Finally, I wonder if your, iworship@xanga, lack of a 'feeling' of trust is really unbelief. If you truly believed God could save you and He has good things for you then you wouldn't feel anxious or fearful, right? I only wonder that, because what you describe is so familiar to me in my own experiences. I've come to learn there's no reason for self condemnation...feelings (including fear) are merely sign posts that tell me what's going on inside me...I don't have control over them, but use them to discover lies I carry (about God, myself and others). I've taken comfort from the story of the man who comes to Jesus for help to heal his son...
Mark 9:21-24 "[The father of the boy said] if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us." 'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes." Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"
The father honestly communicates where he is...he wants to believe, but admits he doesn't believe and knows he can't just grit his teeth or work harder to believe...he can only ask for it.
Sorry and just one last final note...I've found the spiritual disciplines to be helpful to growing intimacy with God. And my experience has revealed that intimacy provides the best hope for peace (not guaranteed, but best hope).
It sounds like God is moving in your life...Praise the living God!
@god_stories@xanga - As I interpret James 'works' are not only serving the poor or preaching as one can easily interpret from your comment, but merely acting out of faith.
I was addressing what appear to be the needs of the OP. You can get lost in your head and emotions unless you actually start doing something with your faith.
It is during works that the disciple is tested. This testing builds faith. Trust then follows.
they're the same thing...
Good words. I think many of us "have faith" in the sense that we affirm (because we've been told) the truth that God provides, protects, directs, and so forth. But when it comes to doing something with that knowledge when there's something actually at stake, it's another story. It's the difference between knowing that the bunjee cord will certainly support your weight and looking down off the platform at the 250-foot drop beneath you.
Go ahead; jump.
(Before you do it, it's scary. After you do it, it's an adventure.)
@LoBornlyte@xanga - I agree there is a test...and that testing builds faith. And I sense that your experience is such that by doing works of charity you've felt tested...and I can imagine that its been helpful for you!
Perhaps the broader context is that life provides the test and by risking (taking action to put ourselves at risk...out of obedience) we see our faith built...just as in the excellent analogy Pass_the_Aura@xanga describes.
I just wonder if there's value in viewing from a broader context...obedience in the face of risk...versus advising a specific action, such as perform acts of charity. One being a subset of the other...I think.
@god_stories@xanga - I just wonder if there's value in viewing from a broader context...obedience in the face of risk...
What? You think charity is just dropping money in a dish or a beggar's hand? Charity is not a specific action. Charity can take many forms. Charity can be down and dirty with high risk every day. It can be trying, taxing, and at times debilitating. If you make mistakes you can go away for a long time.
@LoBornlyte@xanga - 'Charity can take many forms.' ...that's so true!