~Isaiah 26:3
 |
| Waahhh, I miss London! |
I trust random people.
Really, I do. And here’s why:
-Once in London , while waiting for a bus, I dropped my travel card. Would’ve been so easy for a stranger to pull an Artful Dodger and walk off with it. Instead, a guy behind me picked it up, nudged me and handed it back. ‘Course, by the time I turned back around, the bus I was waiting for had taken off. But still.
-Recently, I had car troubles in Wichita . Perfect opportunity for a mechanic to jip the out-of-towner who knows as much about cars as she does molecular biology…which, trust me, isn’t much. Instead, the guy tells me even though I’m a few miles over my warranty, he’s not going to charge me for the part.
-Several years back, Miss Newbie Reporter (that’d be me) locks her keys in her car in a church parking lot…in the rain. A man from the church gives me an umbrella, unfolds a wire hanger to try to get the car open, fails, calls the police. The police officer can’t get my door unlocked either, so he calls a locksmith. In the meantime, the police officer gives me a tour of his car, which I think is way cool. Then, the locksmith shows up, gets the door open and refuses to charge me.
I love nice people!
Oh, I know there are mean people in the world. I know there are people who cheat and steal and get a kick out of rotten behavior.
But if we go through life constantly wary of the not-so-kind among us, if we’re always at the ready to be offended or victimized or simply annoyed, all we’ll experience is stress…and worry…and probably an ulcer the size of the Rock of Gibraltar. And we’ll miss soooo many nice people along the way.
So, I’d rather trust. (With, yes, a good dose of common sense thrown in.)
If you read last week’s post, I mentioned a quote I read recently in a book…
“Relaxation is impossible without trust!…The ability to relax and go with the flow in life is dependent upon our willingess to trust God completely.” (p. 255-256, Living Beyond Your Feelings, Joyce Meyer)
I’ve been thinking about that ever since…about how honestly easy I find it to trust random people. And yet…how often do I not trust God?
Just like I don’t want to go through life expecting the worst of people, I also don’t want to spend my life stressed, anxious, or, as I’ve experienced recently, unable to relax. The key to avoiding those things…trust.
And not some surface trust-God-because-I’m supposed-to. I crave the real deal, a surrendering kind of trust that gives God:
- My yesterday: No more hyperventilating about what did or didn’t get done yesterday. No more dwelling on past mistakes.
- My today: I am right where God wants me today. No need to compare my today to someone else’s. God is here to help with all the big and little decisions today requires. Nothing’s going to happen today that surprises Him.
- My tomorrow: I don’t have to freak out about my dreams. Yes, determination and perseverance play a role, but in the end, God is in control. So it’s okay to take some time and relax along the way.
How do I know I’m trusting God? If I’m experiencing peace instead of panic, joy instead of self-judgment, rest instead of weariness.
What about you? Is it somewhat natural to you to trust God or is it something you work at? How trusting are you of the people around you? What does true trust in God look like to you?
Comments 23
Trusting God is easier than trusting people. LOL I tend to think everyone is a potential serial killer.
Hehe, that’s hilarious!
Oh, yeah, and I hope you write suspense!
If I remember right, she’s said at least some of her fiction is suspense…
Well dang! Your post has pinpointed the reason I haven’t been able to relax my tightly wound soul for the past month. I never thought I had problems trusting God. But then again, I have never before faced my current challenges. So…thank you!
Thanks so much for stopping by, Beth. I just checked out your website – it’s beautiful! I’m glad today’s post hit you where you needed it.
“Pull an Artful Dodger” Ha! Love that line.
It’s definitely something that I have to work at. I think some times I’m just waiting for the bottom to fall out. I even remember thinking of it like that when I was a teenager. I really have to make a conscious effort to put my trust in Jesus for the day to day stuff, but He’s leading me and teaching me every day.
I like what you said about it being a conscious effort. Trusting God isn’t something that just happens…we have to cultivate it.
My trust in God is a work-in-progress. There are days it’s so deep I cannot imagine anything shaking it, then there are those other days…where I have to choose to trust and make my feelings follow. Then its minute by minute. As for other people -I’m w/ Jess…STRANGER DANGER is still a phrase I can yell with the best of them:)
Aren’t we all works in progress.
Stranger Danger…hehehehe!
Last year, trust was my word for 2011. I thought I was fully trusting, but really I was still wishy-washy – until I had one of those “defining” moments. Trust in God is the key to a peaceful life. Great post.
“Trust in God is the key to a peaceful life.” Amen!
I tend to trust people, unless they have proven otherwise or look sketchy, LOL. I say I trust God…even really think I do…but then my actions don’t always show it. And you know the saying: Actions speak louder than words.
Happy Friday, Mel! I hope you’re able to relax this weekend.
I’m so with ya there, Linz.
I like to think I’m great at trusting God, but then I’ll go through a stressy-type week and think, “What’s wrong with me?” And it always comes down to me trying to take over when it would’ve been so much better to trust God.
I plan on doing some definite relaxing in between bouts of get-er-done.
Are you hanging out with craft books this weekend?
Yes, ma’am. Hanging with them and my husband.
He’s FINALLY done with a big trial he’s been working on for the last month. Yay for time together!
I have a very strange relationship with trust. I think I’ve decided I’m very open with strangers, but to deeply trust someone…that takes a lot.
~ Wendy
You know, I think sometimes it’s almost easier to be vulnerable with strangers…especially if you know you’re never going to see them again!
I don’t think we really know where we stand in the trust area until something happens to challenge us. A few years ago, I learned our grant would not be renewed that coming fall. It was my only source of income. I remember my first thought: I wonder what God has around the corner. I’m still shocked that I wasn’t worried. And true to His promises, He had something even bigger and better.
That’s a good point, Pat. It’s easy to say we trust God when everything’s peachy. When life goes sour, that’s when our trust is put to the test.
Wow, You have some major niceness mojo going on there, Melissa.
All those things that people did for you…very cool.
I’m trusting of strangers to a certain point. For instance, I’d trust the locksmith to help unlock my car, but if he asked me to get in his car afterwards…ummm, I wouldn’t be so trusting.
I love that Jesus is the only One we can trust 100% without putting up barriers to protect ourselves.
Niceness mojo…nice.
I love nice people. I had a few others added to the list until I decided my post was too long – the guy who caught me when I literally just fell over on a train in London, the cashier at Panera who randomly gave me a free strawberry smoothie one afternoon ’cause I ‘looked like I was working hard,’ the Verizon customer service lady who let me upgrade to an iPhone early, even though I had five months left on my contract.
I think the more we look for it, the more we see and appreciate all the niceness out there.
You’re right…Jesus has the ultimate trustworthiness factor!
Melissa,
It’s almost midnight.
And,yes, everyone in my house is sleeping except me because … well, I have stuff to do.
But reading this post was the right thing to do.
Because “trust” is my word for 2012.
And I needed this reminder.
So, thank you, friend, for reminding me to trust.
And on this note, I am going to bed.
I’m glad the post came at a good time for you, Beth.