"You’re leaving the country soon so I can share my diagnosis."

"You’ll be happy when I tell you my exam results. You won’t tell others I cheated."

"I’m trying to lose weight so I’ll leave these chocolates at your place."

A colleague, a student, and a friend each expressing trust in me. Am I worthy? Perhaps I just won’t be around to spill your secret or I’m so foreign and naïve I just want to share your happiness or I have simply made it clear that cinnamon rolls are my preferred form of sugar. 

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not on your own understanding." Proverbs 3:5-6

God tells me to trust Him–with all my heart. What makes Him worthy of such all-consuming trust? I found a simple dictionary definition to be quite insightful. Trust is the firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability or strength of someone or something. The Bible abounds with proof that our God is reliable, truth, able, and strong. Can I recount the experiences of Abraham, Moses, Hannah, Ruth, Onesimus, Jude, Paul and the three on the road to Emmaus? What would they tell me about the trustworthiness of God? 

“When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, your consolations delight my soul.” Psalm 94:19

But what are my experiences? What’s my proof? The Israelites were told to erect Ebenezers–creations that reminded them of God’s faithfulness. When they were filled with anxious thoughts and doubts they could look back and remember “Oh yes, now I recall.”

Before I criticize their poor memories, I need to take a look close to home at what I choose to remember. From a day of connecting flights to a long prayed-for neighbor who comes to faith, my life is full of reminders to trust Him. But so are worries and unknowns. A shower box that could electrocute at any minute, a child that suddenly won’t touch the local food, an unknown illness, and another friend sent home. Oh God, bring those consolations into my sight and keep my mind steadfast. 

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever for the Lord, the Lord himself is the Rock eternal.” Isaiah 26:3-3